Joseph A. Lewis, 82, Lived Most of Life in Rumford

Joseph A. Lewis, Sr., formerly of Rumford, East Providence, died on Sunday, March 10, 2013, in Punta Gorda, Florida. He was 82.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Patricia (Harrington), their five children: Patricia Lewis Dulac (Raymond) of East Greenwich and Punta Gorda, FL; Carol Lewis Cullinan (William) of Glocester and Narragansett; Joseph A., Jr. (Laureen) of Barrington; James J. of East Providence; and Jeffrey J. of Sarasota, FL; and five grandchildren: Kaitlyn Lewis Dulac and Michael Lewis Dulac, both of Providence, RI; Joseph A. Lewis, III and John J. Lewis, both of Barrington; and Zachary Lewis of Sarasota, FL.

An electrical contractor and real estate broker, Lewis was born in Providence and lived most of his life in Rumford. He was predeceased by his parents, Manuel and Sabina (Silva) Lewis; his brother, Anthony C. Cunha; and his sisters Mary V. Burgess, Ruth O’Grady, Edwina Cooney, and Madeline Boyle.

He was a fan of all sports and had a keen interest in politics. He was a scoutmaster and director of the youth hockey league, a member or chair of several state and local political groups, and served as a lobbyist for the Political Action Committee of IBEW Local 99 in Rhode Island. He later became a more ardent sports fan as he watched his grandchildren participate in athletics.

Lewis retired in 1999 to Punta Gorda, where he was a communicant of and volunteer at San Antonio Church. A mass of celebration of his life was held at San Antonio Church, 24445 Rampart Blvd, Punta Gorda on March 14.

Please visit the online tribute for Joseph Anthony Lewis, Sr., www.kays-ponger.com. Arrangements were handled by Kays-Ponger & Uselton Funeral Home and cremation services by Port Charlotte Chapel.