Perry Roger Lewis

Perry Roger Lewis, age 91, of Shelby, Ohio, died Friday morning, January 31, 2025 at OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital. His natural death was unexpected and sudden.

Perry was born January 8, 1934 in Morehead, KY to the late Talmadge Ray and Jeanie D. (Coffey) Lewis. A proud Korean War veteran, Perry served his country in the United States Army (SP3) for nearly three years- thirteen months of that service being stationed in Germany. Following honorable discharge, he was in the Air Force Reserves for two additional years where he was a staff sergeant.

It was love at first sight for Perry when he saw Ardell L. Darlington at a roller skate rink in Indiana. They married January 19, 1954 and moved to Shelby in 1958. Perry would spend 37 years working for General Motors in Ontario from where he retired. Together with Ardell they enjoyed traveling annually to Rehoboth Beach in Delaware for 17 years. Perry and Ardell were happily married 39 years before her sudden passing on August 22, 1993.

Perry was truly a fine and distinguished southern gentleman. His sense of humor was witty yet ornery and he was incredibly smart yet always humble. A storyteller through and through, his frequent and often narratives were reminiscent of his childhood- especially of all his siblings, his service in the Army, and work at GM. All stories, especially of family, were both nostalgic and caring. Perry thoroughly enjoyed family get-togethers in KY and often spoke of the hard work and preparation by his sister, Anna Mae, whom he loved dearly.

Perry’s true hobby and passion was watching the stock market- something he truly mastered. Additionally, he enjoyed being outdoors- especially lawnmower races, loved to play checkers- in fact, he was a checkers hustler, and had read nearly all of John Grisham’s novels.

Perry is survived by his daughters: Brenda (Phil) Sweet of Bailey Lakes and Sheila (Paul) Metzger of Shelby; grandchildren: Heather (Mike) Manley, Jeremy (Paige) Sweet, Kristina (Dan) Parrigan, Angela Kimmel, Trisha Tenpenny, and Rachel (Keith) Westler; great grandchildren: Ashlyn, Paige, Brevin, Cheyenne, Blake, Austin, Lauren, Felicia, Gwyn, Lydia, Owen, Dylan, Isaac, Evalyn, Mallorie, and Nicholas; great great grandchildren: Zella and Zion; siblings: Anna Mae (Marion) Lewis, Marcella Bradford, Carl (Sue) Lewis, Junior (Debbie) Lewis, David (Joyce) Lewis, and Marie (Rick) Wisecup; longtime friend: Kendall Lykins; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. In addition to his parents and wife, Ardell, Perry was preceded in death by his son: Steve Lewis; and siblings: Lenora Lewis, Richard Lewis, Raymond Lewis, Ray Lewis, Faye Callahan, McKee Lewis, and Otis Lewis.

Family and friends are welcome on Wednesday, February 5, 2025 from 11 am-1 pm at Northcutt & Son Home for Funerals, 400 Fraley Drive, Morehead, KY 40351 where services will immediately follow at 1 pm. His nephew, Herbert Duane Lewis, will lead the services. Burial will be in the Ditney Ridge Cemetery with military honors.

Care for Perry and his family is being provided by both the Penwell Funeral Home, Shelby OH (PenwellFuneralHome.com) in addition to the Northcutt & Son Home for Funerals, Morehead, KY (NorthcuttandSon.com).