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Honoring One Who Served

Doug Kerr

Well-known member
Yesterday, Carla and I attended the funeral of Donald ("Pat") Lewis, a long time friend of the family.

Carla met Pat's wife, Edwina ("Winnie") in 1979, when Carla was 40 (tending bar at the time). She was about 18 years Carla's senior (the exact number being unknowable). She was a legal secretary, and a woman of great style, charm, wit, and good humor. She became in a way the big sister Carla never had, and Carla credits Winnie for having taught her about style, fashion, makeup, and being at ease in every milieu and situation.

The two were part of an informal club that arranged day trips to horse tracks, casinos, and the like - and were regular and entertaining visitors to Nieman-Marcus. They remained the best of friends until Winnie's death in 2002, and we kept in touch with Pat over the years following.

Pat had been a pilot in the US US Army Air Corps during World War II. He had said that his greatest flight was when he glided across the Grand Ballroom of the Baker Hotel in Dallas at a servicemen's dance and asked a stunningly beautiful girl to dance. They were married just a couple of weeks later.

Pat was 89 at his death. He was buried in uniform. The Base Honor Guard from the local Air Force installation served at the interment, giving a three-volley rifle salute (party of 3) and playing taps (a bogus digital bugle, sadly*). It was quite stirring.

*Further on the disappointing instrumentation front, the music for the otherwise-lovely chapel service was rendered on a dreadful Hammond C-3 (with insensitive use of the swell shoe, which should be nailed down on such a machine).​

Here we see the flag that had covered the casket having been folded for presentation "on behalf of his president" to Pat's family (his two daughters - just out of this frame to the right - accepted it).

Pat_Lewis_G02101-01R.jpg

Douglas A. Kerr: On behalf of his president

It was a stirring event, a celebration of a full and fruitful life by a wonderful gentleman.

Best regards,

Doug
 
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