Theodore Royer Lewis, 91, of Thorn Hill Tennessee, peacefully passed away in Springfield Ohio on January 4, 2023, with family at his side.

Theodore (aka Ted or Tink) was born on November 28, 1931, to Joseph Theodore Lewis and Revonda Brown Lewis (Rhew) in Swannanoa, North Carolina. Ted was an Air Force veteran and served in the Korean War as Military Police in England.

After graduating from electronics school, Ted pursued a career as a TV and electronics repairman in the Cleveland, Ohio area, where he raised his family. Always wanting to return to the mountains, Ted bought property in Hancock County, Tennessee where he hosted a menagerie of animals, became a beekeeper and member of Clinch Valley Beekeepers Association, did woodworking, worked a moonshine still, and most recently raised chickens.

He was a man of the land and of the mountains. He loved to grow and graft plants and trees. Being a person with a giant heart, Ted was a caregiver to those in need who were lucky enough to cross his path. He loved to sing country music tunes and tell ridiculously funny jokes. After falling ill and coming to stay with his daughter in Ohio, one of his greatest regrets was that he couldn’t return to his mountain.

Ted was predeceased by his parents, brother Wayne Lewis, sister Linda Rhew, partners Mabel, Diane, Marguerite, Barbara, and Brenda.

He is survived by daughter Cathy (Steve) Roberts, son Bob Lewis, stepdaughter Wendi Hope, children of the heart Angela and Nathaniel Singleton, brother Sam Lewis, sisters Clara Allen, Susan Rhew, Judith Jones and Edna Crowe, grandchildren Jenna (Rob) Guess, Kevin (Chloe) Lewis, Kyle (Ann) Roberts, Shelby Gautney, great-grandchildren Alexa and Makenzie Guess, Keagan, Ellie and Luca Roberts, Iris Peffer, Jax Lewis, and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to a charity of your choice. Ted was personally partial to St. Jude’s.

Memorial services to be held at Bethel United Methodist Church, 1056 Riceville Rd., Asheville, NC on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 3 p.m. and at War Creek Baptist Church,Highway 31, Sneedville TN on Sunday, Jan. 15 at 3 p.m.