Diane King Lewis, 89, of Winchester, Ohio, passed away on Thursday, April 4, 2019, at Hope Hospice in Bonita, Fla.
Born Doris Diane King on Dec. 2, 1929, in Portsmouth, Ohio, she was the daughter of Earl Hubert King and Helena Katherine “Kitty” (List) King. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her only sister, Drusilla Dolores (King) Leshy.
Graduating from Winchester High School in 1947, Diane went on to earn her Bachelors Degree in Music Education from Miami University and also took classes at Ohio State and Xavier University. She began her teaching career in 1951 in Franklin, Ohio, then taught music at Winchester and later North Adams Elementary and Junior High schools before retiring in 1986. She was a member of the Adams County Liberty Band as well as the Clark Alexander Band.
Diane attended Winchester United Methodist Church, serving as organist and choir director. She opened and operated Kitty’s Corner Bed & Breakfast, served on the Ohio Valley Local School Board, served as president of the Adams County Business Women’s organization, helped establish the Chamber of Commerce, and was active in many other community and county organizations.
Diane is survived by her husband of 66 years, William Carroll Lewis; daughter Kitty (Michael) Grooms of Seaman; daughter Kathy (Chris) Willman of Fort Myers, Fla.; son Bill (Kathy) Lewis of West Union; and son David Lewis of Cincinnati.
She is also survived by six grandchildren: Levi Grooms, Sarah Grooms, Charles Willman, Ashley Willman, Stacy Lewis, and Steven Lewis; and five great-grandchildren: Logan Boone, Kayden Boone, Brianna Ballard, Easton Ballard, and Baily Willman, as well as several nieces and nephews.
As education was a priority in her life, Diane has donated her body to the medical research program at the University of Central Florida. A memorial service will be held at the Winchester United Methodist Church on Saturday, June 1 at 2 p.m.