Ben Lewis joined his bride in heaven on August 31, 2018. He fought COPD and beat cancer, but he headed up to dance again with his wife, Peg.

Ben was born on October 3, 1936 in Plattsburgh, New York. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters, and his wife. Ben is survived by his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and numerous other family members. His children and their spouses are Pam Lewis, Susanne Taylor and her husband Cliff, Allison Dyer and her husband Curtis, Ben III and his wife Monica, and Melissa and her husband Steve. Surviving grandchildren include Sarah Smith and her husband Dakota, Scott Dyer, Emma Baldwin, Kathryn Baldwin, Lily Lewis, Brenden Bishop, Benjamin Lewis, Logan Bishop, Parker Bishop, Noah Bishop, and Gabriel Lewis. Ben is also survived by several great-grandchildren including Raylee Smith, Jackson Smith, Olivia Duhme, and Charlotte Duhme.

Ben worked hard all of his life to provide the best life possible for his family. When Ben was a young man, he held several jobs to put himself through college and to help provide for his mother. Ben joined Travelers Insurance after college where he worked for thirty-six years. After retiring from Travelers, Ben joined Summit Financial where he was a financial advisor. At the age of eighty-one, Ben was still taking advantage of professional development opportunities because he wanted to take care of his clients.

Ben was the perfect example of how a man should love his wife and family. He and Peg often held hands when their children were young, and they continued to do so until she passed away. When they were younger, they were spotted dancing in their family room and anywhere else with a dance floor. They were often seen having fun just spending time together. Ben was not born a Catholic, but he converted after spending years with Peg and her love of the Church. Melissa, his youngest daughter wrote, "They shared a love like no other, and I can only hope Steve and I can honor their love through ours."

Living in Virginia for most of his youth fueled Ben's life-long passion for history. He often spent time with family members discussing history or watching movies about history. If anyone ever was in doubt about what to give Ben as a present, a history book was always a good choice. Last summer, he was able to visit his old stomping grounds where he was able to retrace America's history along with his own family history. He loved sharing stories about his family and his youth so that his children and grandchildren had a stronger sense of their family history.

Spending time with his children and grandchildren was another favorite pastime of Ben's. He actively participated in his children's lives by serving as a coach, homework helper, horse groomer, or any activity when his family needed his assistance or time. Ben also enjoyed cheering on his children and grandchildren in a wide variety of activities: dance recitals, band recitals, horse shows, sporting events, and other events with family members participating in. Because several of his grandchildren do not live in Tulsa, he made frequent trips to support them as well as those who lived in Tulsa. Definitely all of the grandchildren knew "Pop" loved them and was proud of them.

A special note from Ben's children for their parents: We are so grateful to have had such amazing parents who put their family first and loved their five kids and their families wholly and unconditionally. When we sit in your backyard with May, looking at all of the beautiful flowers that you and Mom planted, we know that you are both with us. Thank you for the blessed life that you gave us and for the wonderful example that you set for us.

A visitation will be held Tuesday, September 4 at 6:30 with a Rosary following at 8:00 P.M at Fitzgerald Southwood Colonial Chapel. A funeral Mass will be held at St. Bernard of Clairvaux at 11 A.M. on Wednesday, September 5, with a reception following the Mass. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Operation Smile or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.