1936-2025
Richard “Dick” Dale Lewis, 89, of Longton, KS, passed away Saturday, December 6, 2025 at William Newton Hospital.
Funeral mass will be held at 10:00 AM Monday, December 22, 2025 at Holy Name Catholic Church in Winfield, the Rosary will be prayed at 9:30 AM Monday, December 22, 2025, prior to the funeral. Interment will take place at a later date at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Ponca City. Memorial contributions may be made to Gentiva Hospice, donations may be left in the care of the Shelley Family Funeral Home.
Dick was born on May 16, 1936 in Winfield, KS, to parents Lawrence and Ruth (Dicken) Lewis. He graduated from Winfield High School in 1954 and on May 22nd of that year, he married the love of his life, Mary Thirsk, at Holy Name Catholic Church in Winfield. Dick lived life on his own terms and that started with when he moved out at 12 years old and started breaking horses and working on a ranch. He later became a farrier and that took him all over the US, he eventually started doing leatherwork on tack and boots which led to him making custom leather boots. He could learn any trade and always provided for his family. In 1988, Dick moved back to Oklahoma and worked for Conoco as a truck driver for over 10 years before retiring. Dick loved telling stories, teaching, anything involving horses, rodeos, and the cowboy channel. He enjoyed reading and was a Civil War buff. In his last years, he was “living a cowboy’s dream” working on the ranch with his nephew.
Survivors include his children Margie Elders and husband Rob, Dan Lewis, Marcia Thornton, Marilee Thornton, Marie Biesecker and husband Robert, Martha Cecil, Marlisa Curtis and husband Sam, and nephew Maj. Gen. Kenneth Lewis Jr. and wife Jennifer C. Herlocker, brother Kenneth Lewis Sr., 18 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and 9 great-great-grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his parents, wife Mary, daughter Marilyn Powell, grandchildren Natalie and Tara Bute, and sister Martha Hazelbush.
