Frank Lewis, 1921/22-2011

Frank Lewis, a cartoonist that first plied his craft in the 1950s military and in semi-retirement became the house cartoonist at the Stafford County Sun, died the week of March 28 after a heart attack. He was 89 years old.

Lewis enlisted in the US Army during World War II, and in an article about his military past described a long career, early days spent getting in trouble carousing and drinking before experience hand-to-hand combat in the Philippines, later years as a decorated green beret training foreign troops in Vietnam. (He won the awards for various actions taken during the last months of World War II).

Lewis worked in the civilian world -- a time during which he was married -- before re-enlisting during the Korean War. It was while stationed in Okinawa that he became serious about the cartooning he'd done to pass the time during World War II, and ended up seeing his work used by base publications. He retired from the military as a sergeant 1st Class.

Lewis moved to Stafford in the late '90s. He provided cartoons to the News & Messenger before moving to the Sun. His work seems equally divided between issues of local and state import. In 2006, Lewis received a certificate of excellence from the Virginia Press Association for his cartoon work. It looks like his last cartoon may have appeared in January, the same month his participation in a children's book project was announced.

Frank Lewis is survived by six children, several grand-children and multiple great grand-children. He was preceded in death by his wife of more than 50 years, Lois.
 
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