Blair Stanley Lewis

Blair Stanley Lewis, 79 of Idaho Falls, Idaho died March 20, 2005 in Idaho Falls from complications due to heart problems. Blair was born June 6, 1925 to Stanley Lewis and Eva Tuttle Lewis in Spanish Fork, Utah. Blair graduated from Rigby High School in 1943. He joined the Navy in 1944 after High School and served as a Radioman on the U.S.S. Henderson in the South Pacific. He received the Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal, the American Area Campaign Medal and the Word War II Victory Medal. He later attended and graduated from the University of Idaho in 1950 with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Business. Blair met his wife of 54 years, Verna Call, the summer of 1951 while cruising the Main Street in Rigby. They were married on November 2, 1951 in Rigby, Idaho. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. While in High School, Blair started his career working in the local grocery store in Rigby for 25 cents per hour. He later secured a job setting pins at the bowling alley for 2 cents a line. Following college, he was able to land a job with the Department of Energy with Aero Jet Nuclear. He worked for a number of DOE contractors until he retired with Westinghouse Idaho Nuclear in the spring of 1986. He had many hobbies and interests that kept him busy, which he was able to focus on more after he retired. Some of his interests included building model airplanes and ships, wood carving, painting, photography, playing the piano and guitar, and a HAM radio operator as W7SDJ (Spud Digger’s Junction). However, his favorite hobby was his family. Blair was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints where he had many callings including High Priest Group Leader and Executive Secretary to the Bishop. He also served three separate missions with his wife, at the Idaho Falls Temple Visitors Center, Idaho Falls Family History Center, and one as Stake Missionaries. His medical journey began in 1970 with his first heart attack after which Dr. Drosten Baker came to the house and resuscitated him. He was then transported to the LDS Hospital after the ambulance stopped to gas up. At the ER they had to unpack and read the directions to the new difibulator before using it on him all night long. Early the next year he was the patient of Doctor Russell M. Nelson who preformed a cutting edge surgery to save his life. This was his first of three open heart surgeries. His journey ended in February when he had angina while working in the Temple. The next week he had his third open heart surgery. Through it all, he retained an undying love for his family and grandchildren. He is survived by wife, Verna May Lewis, his sister, Donna (Vern) Sorensen, his two sons, Michael (Barbara) Lewis and Brett (Linda) Lewis, and his daughter, Roxanne (Neil) Pfunder. His seven grandkids, Shawn (Jodi) Pfunder, Brandon (Julianne) Pfunder, Kevin (Marolyn) Pfunder, Shea Lynn (Tony) Hayward, Scott Lewis, David Lewis, and Caitlyn Lewis. His nine great grandkids, Magdalena, Bailey, Lauren, Aidan, Morgan, Isaac, and Emerson Pfunder; Isaac and Taylor Hayward. He was preceded in death by his parents, Stanley and Eva Lewis, his twin brother Blaine and brother David. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 24, 2005 at the Idaho 32nd Ward LDS Chapel at 2349 Virlow Drive in Idaho Falls. A viewing will be held on Wednesday, March 23rd from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the 32nd Ward Chapel and again on Thursday, at the church from 9:30 to 10: 45 a.m. Graveside services will be held after the funeral at the Fielding Memorial Cemetery with military honors.