Donna Eloise Lewis left this earthly life on Sunday, December 19, 2021, at her home, in Waverly, Ohio, surrounded by her family.  She was born in the village of Woodstock, Vermont, on June 10, 1927, the youngest of four children of Rev. Herman Allen Lewis and Donna Glenn Lewis.

Most of her life was spent attending and working in public schools, beginning with first grade at age five in the one-room Meadow Run School in Pike County, Ohio, where Aunt Kathryn Glenn was the teacher.  She graduated from Green Township High School in Scioto County in 1944 and took the civil service test along with her fellow classmates.  That was the middle of World War II; many classmates had already enlisted or would soon be drafted.  She was assigned a job at Wright Field in Dayton, along with two of her friends.

After the war ended in 1945, Donna attended classes at Ohio University and Rio Grande College.  Because teachers were still scarce, the Ohio Department of Education issued four-year certificates that were renewable after more college credits were earned.  During the next several years, she finished a Bachelor's degree at Rio Grande and a Master's degree at the University of Northern Colorado.  Later she took a two-year leave from teaching to complete a fellowship at Indiana University that involved co-writing workbooks for reading teachers.

Hiking in the Green Mountains of Vermont, the low southern Ohio hills, and, later, in Rocky Mountain trails were young years' activities.  Her love of the arts and local history led to a pursuit of genealogy, joining with other members of the Pike County Genealogy Society to help locate and copy the county's cemeteries.  Donna enjoyed singing with the Grace United Methodist Church choir for more than fifty years, and many years of attending watercolor workshops taught by James Godwin Scott, the "River Painter," both in the United States and in several European countries.  Donna had a love for words and verse and was always creating, eventually authoring several children's books.

Her interest in genealogy led to membership in First Families of Gallia County, Ohio, First Families of Augusta County, Virginia, the Gallia County Historical Society, the French Colony chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Ohio Arts Council of Jackson, Ohio.  She was also a member of the Pike County Retired Teachers Association and a life member of the Ohio Retired Teachers Association.

Donna was preceded in death by her sister and brother-in-law, Ruth (Louis) Sakal, and by brothers and sisters-in-law, Donald (Bernice) Lewis, Robert Eugene (Betty) Lewis, and Fritzi Bryant.  She was also preceded in death by her nephew, James Lewis.

Donna is survived by several nephews and nieces including, Steve (Beverly) Lewis, Becki (Ken) Peden, Rita (Gordon) Bevens, Jackie Lewis, Steve (Janet) Lewis, Tom (Betsy) Lewis, Ayla Peden, Sloane Hilton, Braydon (Peggy) Bevens, Bret Bevens, Ellie Lewis, Sophie Lewis, Charlie Lewis, Margo Lewis, Sam Lewis, and Cole Bevens.

Family will receive friends on Thursday, December 23, 2021 from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm at Botkin Hornback Funeral Home in Waverly.

A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, May 15, 2022 at Evergreen Union Cemetery on Bridge Street in Waverly with Pastor Dave Buriss officiating.

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