Obituary of Thomas D. Lewis

Thomas D. Lewis, 70, died suddenly at home in Jacksonville, FL on October 5, 2017. Tom was born November 3, 1946, in Albany, NY and lived most of his life locally in Albany, Kinderhook, and Castleton. Tom was educated at the Maple Hill Schools and HVCC. He worked for the Wickes Lumber Co., and the NYS Department of Military and Naval Affairs. Tom was an avid sportsman his entire life enjoying fishing, boating, hunting and precision shooting. He was a member of Forbes Rifle and Pistol Association and won many awards. Tom loved NASCAR, the Yankees, music and art. He was a multi-talented craftsman and mechanic, and built his family home in Castleton. Despite decades of cardiovascular disease he lived a full and productive life to his last days. He was predeceased by his parents, Robert and Agnes Lewis, and brothers Ralph Lewis, and David Lewis. He is the beloved husband of Ruth Vandenbergh Lewis. They would have been married 50 years, May 2018. Survivors are his children Adam T. Lewis (Patricia) of Jacksonville, FL and Elizabeth C. Lewis (Burak) of West Orange, NJ, and his sister, Donna Lewis of Bozeman, Montana. He was a proud and loving Papa to Zachary, Jordan, Darren, Lindsey, Olivia and James. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral service 7 p.m. Friday, October 13, at Rockefeller Funeral Home 165 Columbia Tpk. Rensselaer, NY Family and friends may call from 4-7 p.m. prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Tom's honor to the American Heart Association at http://donatenow.heart.org and to ELCA Hurricane Disaster Relief at http://community.elca.org/hurricane-relief.