Ralph Adolphus Lewis' Obituary
Ralph Adolphus Lewis, Sr., fourth child of Susie Scott-Lewis and Edward Pearl Lewis was born on June 23, 1941.
On May 17, 2022, Ralph peacefully made his transition to be with the Lord. His final days were spent with his family. He lived his life to the fullest. Cherishing every moment. Ralph gave God the Glory when he often reminded us that the Lord gave him 80 years. "The days of our years are threescore years and ten." Psalm 90:10.
He became a member of Second Baptist Church in Philadelphia, PA and was baptized at an early age by the Reverend John Charles King. Ralph participated in many church organizations: Sunday School, Baptist Training Union (BTU), Vacation Bible School and the Junior Choir.
He was educated in the Public School System. Ralph attended Franklin Smedley Elementary, Warren G. Harding Junior High, and Abraham Lincoln High School where he was a member of the basketball and football teams. In school his favorite subjects were mathematics and art.
In 1962, Ralph was joined in holy matrimony to Joyce Sandra Smullen. To this union four children were born.
His employment history included working for his Uncle Joseph Percell Scott, S & H Green Stamps, Sears, Roebuck and Co., ACME Meat Markets where he was a meat packer and meat cutter, State Senator Christine M. Tartaglione as an Administrative Assistant/Constituent Representative and Committee Person for the 23rd Ward. He later became self-employed as a General Contractor. Ralph was the Designer of golf wear and Owner of "For Golfers Only" with 3 USA trademarks.
His hobbies were golfing and designing golf attire. He always showed an interest in National Sports. Ralph was a staunch advocate of the Dallas Cowboys Football Team and followed the career of the Golfer Tiger Woods.
He and his two brothers were always seen together dining at a favorite restaurant on the last Thursday of each month. Every Memorial Day they decorated the graves of immediate family members and other relatives. Afterwards, they would go to their favorite bakery and proceed to a local shoe store to buy shoes.
Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Susie Lewis, two brothers, Eugene Ashland Lewis, Edward Joseph Lewis and a sister, Gloria Lewis-Littles.
He leaves to cherish his memory: his wife, Joyce Smullen-Lewis, four children, Ralph A. Lewis, II (Keami), Dawn Lewis-Merriman (Darryl), Braxton T. Lewis (Maria) and Nikkole Lewis-Robinson (Jonathan, Sr.). In addition to his children, he is survived by 9 grandchildren, Ralph A. Lewis, III, Bianca R. Lewis, Charles (Chaz) Merriman-Brown, Bria N. Merriman, Brian G. Merriman, Gianna N. Lewis, Jourden K. Lewis, Jonathan W. Robinson, II and Jase L. Robinson, one great-granddaughter, Rhys C. Lewis, one sister, Eleanor Lewis-Grasty (Kenneth) of Bumpass, VA, one brother, Martin Donald Lewis (Lesie) of Middletown, DE, one sister-in-law, Carole J. Bryant of Claymont, DE., numerous nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.
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