Richard W. Lewis 98, of Jensen Beach and formerly of Port St. Lucie, Florida, passed away on May 1, 2023 at the Treasure Coast Hospice, Stuart, Florida.

Born in Leominster, Massachusetts, Richard graduated from Leominster High School and Bryant and Stratton College in Boston.

He enter the service in 1943 just after graduating high school and was assigned to the 168th Engineering Combat Battalion along with 18 others from Leominster and trained in Camp Carson, Colorado.  The 168th Battalion fought and built bridges and roads through France and Belgium and were awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation and the Belgian Croix de Guerre for stubborn defense of St. Vith, Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge.  The 168th also earned 5 Bronze Battle Stars and the Holocaust Memorial Commendation for liberating Nazi concentration camps.  Richard was taken prisoner during the Battle of the Bulge where he got frozen feet while being transported in boxcars and lost 70 lbs in 3 1/2 months of captivity.

After the war he worked in S.A. Woods Machine Co. in South Boston as a purchasing agent, supervisor of sales statistics at Prophylactic Brush Co. in Florence, Massachusetts and Business Manager of Northampton School for Girls.  He was a manager of rest homes and nursing homes for Northeast Holding Corp, Westfield, Massachusetts and later was owner and operator Val's Variety of Williamsburg, Massachusetts for 15 years until his retirement.

Survivors include his two children, Thomas and Catherine and granddaughters, Lacey Sanderson and Amy Skillings; four nieces Rachel Burgess, Sarah Skidmore, Pam Willis and Judy Felder; a nephew Kevin Tingley; a stepson, John Ferreri, step-daughter-in-law, Gina Ferreri and four step-grandchildren, Jillian Ferreri, Jonathan Ferreri, Anthony Ferreri and Gary Ferreri Jr.  He was preceded in death by his wives, Virginia Lewis and Terry Lewis and stepson, Gary Ferreri.

Richard will be interred in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.

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