Thelma Lewis

Funeral services for Ruth Lewis, 90, will be held at 3:00pm, on Friday, September 2, 2011 at Oregon Trail State Veterans Cemetery Chapel, in Evansville, WY. Ruth was born March 4, 1921 in Basin, WY, as the youngest of four siblings. She passed away on August 26, 2011 in Wheatland, WY. She will be laid to rest beside her husband, Henry "Hank" Lewis, who passed away in 2003. Henry was a decorated WWII and Korean War veteran. Together they called Casper "home" for over 40 years. Ruth also lived in Cody for 16 years and she and Hank enjoyed wintering in Congress, AZ for 17 years during their retirement. Ruth moved to Wheatland in 2008. Ruth spent over 40 years working primarily as a legal secretary. Her early career included working for the state legislature during World War II and then later she earned the designation of Certified Professional Secretary (CPS) in 1969. She was the third CPS in the state of Wyoming. Ruth had a passion for learning and community involvement that inspired her to complete many college classes and to volunteer over the course of her life. She took courses in anthropology and archaeology and particularly loved volunteering at The Tate Geological Museum and Fort Caspar in Casper, WY. When she wasn't volunteering, Ruth enjoyed exercise at the Senior Citizens Center and playing cards with her friends from SOLOS, a group of seniors from Christ Methodist Church in Casper. Ruth had a passion for traveling, quilting, reading, and rock-hounding for fossils. She donated her extensive fossil collection to Wheatland High School in 2008, where students still study the pieces today. Ruth is survived by her two daughters, Cherie Wilson (Bill) of Wheatland, WY, and Debi Tucker (Drew) of Casper, WY. Other survivors include her four grandchildren: Rick Palato of Casper; Aaron Wilson, Wheatland; Darci Simpson, Colorado Springs, CO; and Darby Wilson, Laramie. She had three great-grandchildren (Bradey Wilson, Kinsey Larson, and Anastasia Rose Palato) and a beloved Sheltie named Laddie.