Robert Thomas Lewis

Robert Thomas Lewis died December 17, 2024, at home in Rio Rancho, NM. He was born September 2, 1928, in Kansas City, MO. His parents were James O. and Myrtle (Kemper) Lewis. The family lived in Iowa for seven years before moving to Mt. Vernon, MO in 1935.

He is survived by his wife, Idell, of 72 years and their two daughters, Sarah Lewis and partner, Ann Lewis, Santa Monica, CA and Karen Lewis and husband, Mike Wickman, Rio Rancho, NM. Robert "Bob" and Idell lived in Springfield from 1952 until 2021, when they moved to Rio Rancho, NM.

Bob was a graduate of Mt. Vernon High School, SMSU (now MSU) and Missouri University (Master's and Specialist's degrees) and was employed by Springfield Public Schools for 35 years as a teacher, counselor and Coordinator of Guidance and Counseling. For 20 years he taught Psychology at Drury College evening classes and also Career Development part-time at SMS for three years.

For most of his life he played tennis and fished, making several trips to Canada. With his family he enjoyed a lifetime of travelling in the U.S. and Europe.

He was drafted into the Army in 1950, sent to Giessen, Germany, where he served as an information specialist and was honorably discharged in 1952.

He was an active member of the Presbyterian Church USA from 1935 to 2017. Subsequently, he and Idell attended the Unitarian Universalist Church in Springfield. He was an active member and volunteer in the University Club and Guidance and Counseling organizations. Bob loved working for the Friends of the Library who nominated him for the Gift of Time, which the City of Springfield awarded him in 2013.

His ashes will be returned to Springfield.