EMPORIA, Kan. – John Harlan Lewis was born June 20, 1934, in Arvonia, Kan., the son of John H. and Trilby I. Lewis. He passed away Oct. 20, 2023.

John attended Emporia State University, Emporia, Kan., where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Education with a licensure in Physical Education in 1958, and went on to earn his Master of Science in Physical Education in 1968.

John married Donna F. Pinkston on Oct. 15, 1954. They made their lifelong home in Emporia, where John taught junior high students at Lowther Middle School. John also taught driver’s education during the summers. John’s memberships included the First United Methodist Church of Emporia and the National Education Association.

John was preceded in death by his wife, his son, J.L. Lewis, his parents and his brother, Rodney Lewis.

John will remain in the hearts of his daughter, Beth Paladino, of Royal Oak, Mich.; daughter-in-law, Dawn Lewis, Austin, Texas; grandchildren, Paige Paladino, Royal Oak, Cole Lewis and his wife, Grace, of Austin, and Sherry Lewis-Ramirez and her husband, Ben, of Denver, Colo.; great-grandchildren, Lily Lewis-Ramirez, Banyan Lewis-Ramirez, Eli Zare, Everett Zare, Paxton Lewis and Hadlee Lewis; and his loving companion of the last six years, Marianne Dixon.

A memorial service will be 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 23, at Jones VanArsdale Funeral Home, 107 W. Sixth St., Lebo, Kan.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like to request memorial contributions to The Lewis Family Endowed Scholarship Fund at The Emporia State University Foundation. Condolences can be left at vanarsdalefs.com.