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Thomas Edwin “Tom” Lewis

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Thomas Edwin “Tom” Lewis

Birth
Los Angeles County, California, USA
Death
2 Aug 1979 (aged 70)
San Francisco, San Francisco County, California, USA
Burial
Cremated, Ashes scattered at sea. Specifically: Ashes scattered over the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Francisco Add to Map
Memorial ID
View Source
Tom was the 2nd of 8 children born to:
E. F. (Edward Floyd) Lewis, b. May 26, 1880 in Urbana, Champaign co., IL. and d. Nov. 19, 1960 in Long Beach, L.A. co., CA. &
Ethel (Godfrey) Lewis Harwood, b. Sep. 21, 1885 in L.A., L.A., CA. and d. Dec. 24, 1965 in San Gabriel, L.A., CA.

E.F. and Ethel Lewis' children were:
1. Floyd Addison Lewis, b. Aug. 9, 1907 in L.A., L.A., CA. and d. Apr. 23, 1984 in L.A., L.A., CA.
2. Thomas Edwin Lewis, b. Feb. 22, 1909 in L.A. co., CA. and d. Aug. 2, 1979 in San Francisco, San Francisco co., CA.
3. James Earl Lewis, b. Apr. 19, 1912 in L.A. co., CA. and d. Aug. 6, 1996 in San Gabriel, L.A., CA.
4. Stanley Jackson Lewis, b. Oct. 17, 1914 in Los Angeles co., CA. and d. Jul. 7, 1978 in San Diego co., CA.
5. Dorothy Lewis (twin), b. Jan. 19, 1916 in L. A., L.A., CA. and d. Dec. 11, 1990 in Pasadena, L.A., CA.
6. Marjorie Lewis(twin), b. Jan. 19, 1916 in L.A., L.A., CA. and d. Feb. 22, 2007 in Polk County, NC.
7. Ethel Lewis, b. Oct. 24, 1918 in Los Angeles, L.A., CA. at 2:15 a.m. and died the same day at 8:10 a.m. at Angelus hospital in Los Angeles, L.A., CA.
8. Ruth Cora Lewis, b. Oct. 19, 1921 in L.A., CA. and d. in Cardiff by the Sea, San Diego, CA.

In the 1910 U.S. census, 1 yr. old Thomas Lewis, b. in CA., was living at 1536 3rd Av. in Los Angeles Assembly District 70, L.A., CA. with his
29 yr. old father, Floyd Lewis, a foreman at an iron works, b. in IL.,
25 yr. old mother, Ethel F. Lewis, b. abt. 1885 in CA.
3 yr. old brother, Floyd G. Lewis, b. in CA.
Ethel's parents were both b. in NE.
This was a first marriage for Floyd and Ethel. They had been married for 7 years. Ethel was the mother of two children, both alive by this census.

In the 1920 U.S. census, 10 yr. old son, Thomas E. Lewis, b. in CA., was living in San Gabriel, Los Angeles, CA. with his
39 yr. old father, E. Floyd Lewis, a business manager for a pumps company, b. in IL.
34 yr. old mother, Ethel F. Lewis, b. in CA.
12 yr. old brother, Floyd G. Lewis, b. in CA.
7 yr. old brother, James E. Lewis, b. in CA.
5 yr. old brother, Stanley J. Lewis, b. in CA.
4 yr. 11 mth. old sister, Margerie Lewis, b. in CA.
4 yr. 11 mth. old sister, Dorothy Lewis, b. in CA.
Ethel's parents were b. in the U.S.
E. Floyd's father was b. in IN. and his mother in IL.
*Note: There are two more sisters:
Ethel, who was stillborn and Ruth was born in 1921.

Thomas E. Lewis was one of 56 students who graduated in the Winter Class of 1928 from Alhambra City High School on Thu., Jan. 26, 1928 at 8 o'clock. Commencement exercises were held in the high school auditorium.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 30 yr. old Thomas Lewis, an unmarried artist working on his own account, producing fine art, b. in CA., was renting a studio at 722 Montgomery in San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.
In 1935, he was living in the same place.
The highest grade Tom had completed was 2nd year of college.
He worked 36 hours in the week prior to the census and 52 weeks in 1939. Since he was working for himself, his income was listed as 0 - but he had income from other sources.

Tom never married and never had any children.

From a letter dated September 28, 1978
To the 50-Year Alhambra High School 1928 Class Reunion
Dear former fellow inmates:
Just 50 years ago? it hardly seems 150!
Yes, alive, alive to the great epoch of change as it races forward. Can we even now discard the deviseiveness of religions and racial bigotry? The very existence of our planet earth depends on just that.
Hey, how did I get way out there?
A prize for the most children! Ecology and all! How about cloning?
Sincerely,
Tom Lewis
P.S. Am enclosing a self-portrait along with other diagnostic material which in no way reflects my joy of being.
P.S.S. Locally, some of my stuff can be seen in the permanent collection of the Los Angeles Museum of Art.

Obituary from the San Francisco Chronicle on Wed., Aug. 8, 1979:
Private funeral services have been held for Thomas E. Lewis, 70, a well-known San Francisco painter who died last week at Children's Hospital after a long illness.
A native of Southern California, he began his painting career there and in the 1930's was a co-founder of a Laguna Beach group called The Progressive Painters of Southern California.
In 1935, he moved to San Francisco where he designed and built a Telegraph Hill studio and devoted himself to his painting, his plants and to what he called 'social work' on the waterfront.
He befriended the down and out, financially and otherwise, and frequently signed his letters 'an unpaid social worker'.
He painted in both oil and watercolor and was a founder of the California Watercolor School of Painting. He exhibited widely and won many prizes and awards.
His work is represented in private collections and a number of museums, including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Oakland Museum.
He is survived by a brother, James Lewis of Alhambra, and by three sisters, Dorothy Crawford of Oxnard, Marjorie Austin of Rosemead and Ruth Perdew of Cardiff by the Sea.

Obituary #2:
LEWIS, Thomas E. - In San Francisco, August 2, 1979; Thomas E. Lewis, painter, philosopher and friend to all; he began his painting career in Southern California and came to San Francisco in 1935; he designed and built his studio on Telegraph Hill, where he devoted himself to his painting, his plants and to social work along the waterfront; during the 1930's, he, along with Wilson Coles, formed the group known as "The Progressive Painters of Southern California" in Laguna Beach where he maintained a studio; he was the principal founder of "The California Watercolor School of Painting"; Tommy Lewis painted in both oil and watercolor; he is noted for his vital style, vision, quality of work and rare sense of color; he has exhibited widely and has received numerous prizes and awards; his works are well represented in museums and important private collections; he was an avid walker and keen observer; he loved the sun, the sea, and all growing things. Private services.
Tom was the 2nd of 8 children born to:
E. F. (Edward Floyd) Lewis, b. May 26, 1880 in Urbana, Champaign co., IL. and d. Nov. 19, 1960 in Long Beach, L.A. co., CA. &
Ethel (Godfrey) Lewis Harwood, b. Sep. 21, 1885 in L.A., L.A., CA. and d. Dec. 24, 1965 in San Gabriel, L.A., CA.

E.F. and Ethel Lewis' children were:
1. Floyd Addison Lewis, b. Aug. 9, 1907 in L.A., L.A., CA. and d. Apr. 23, 1984 in L.A., L.A., CA.
2. Thomas Edwin Lewis, b. Feb. 22, 1909 in L.A. co., CA. and d. Aug. 2, 1979 in San Francisco, San Francisco co., CA.
3. James Earl Lewis, b. Apr. 19, 1912 in L.A. co., CA. and d. Aug. 6, 1996 in San Gabriel, L.A., CA.
4. Stanley Jackson Lewis, b. Oct. 17, 1914 in Los Angeles co., CA. and d. Jul. 7, 1978 in San Diego co., CA.
5. Dorothy Lewis (twin), b. Jan. 19, 1916 in L. A., L.A., CA. and d. Dec. 11, 1990 in Pasadena, L.A., CA.
6. Marjorie Lewis(twin), b. Jan. 19, 1916 in L.A., L.A., CA. and d. Feb. 22, 2007 in Polk County, NC.
7. Ethel Lewis, b. Oct. 24, 1918 in Los Angeles, L.A., CA. at 2:15 a.m. and died the same day at 8:10 a.m. at Angelus hospital in Los Angeles, L.A., CA.
8. Ruth Cora Lewis, b. Oct. 19, 1921 in L.A., CA. and d. in Cardiff by the Sea, San Diego, CA.

In the 1910 U.S. census, 1 yr. old Thomas Lewis, b. in CA., was living at 1536 3rd Av. in Los Angeles Assembly District 70, L.A., CA. with his
29 yr. old father, Floyd Lewis, a foreman at an iron works, b. in IL.,
25 yr. old mother, Ethel F. Lewis, b. abt. 1885 in CA.
3 yr. old brother, Floyd G. Lewis, b. in CA.
Ethel's parents were both b. in NE.
This was a first marriage for Floyd and Ethel. They had been married for 7 years. Ethel was the mother of two children, both alive by this census.

In the 1920 U.S. census, 10 yr. old son, Thomas E. Lewis, b. in CA., was living in San Gabriel, Los Angeles, CA. with his
39 yr. old father, E. Floyd Lewis, a business manager for a pumps company, b. in IL.
34 yr. old mother, Ethel F. Lewis, b. in CA.
12 yr. old brother, Floyd G. Lewis, b. in CA.
7 yr. old brother, James E. Lewis, b. in CA.
5 yr. old brother, Stanley J. Lewis, b. in CA.
4 yr. 11 mth. old sister, Margerie Lewis, b. in CA.
4 yr. 11 mth. old sister, Dorothy Lewis, b. in CA.
Ethel's parents were b. in the U.S.
E. Floyd's father was b. in IN. and his mother in IL.
*Note: There are two more sisters:
Ethel, who was stillborn and Ruth was born in 1921.

Thomas E. Lewis was one of 56 students who graduated in the Winter Class of 1928 from Alhambra City High School on Thu., Jan. 26, 1928 at 8 o'clock. Commencement exercises were held in the high school auditorium.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 30 yr. old Thomas Lewis, an unmarried artist working on his own account, producing fine art, b. in CA., was renting a studio at 722 Montgomery in San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.
In 1935, he was living in the same place.
The highest grade Tom had completed was 2nd year of college.
He worked 36 hours in the week prior to the census and 52 weeks in 1939. Since he was working for himself, his income was listed as 0 - but he had income from other sources.

Tom never married and never had any children.

From a letter dated September 28, 1978
To the 50-Year Alhambra High School 1928 Class Reunion
Dear former fellow inmates:
Just 50 years ago? it hardly seems 150!
Yes, alive, alive to the great epoch of change as it races forward. Can we even now discard the deviseiveness of religions and racial bigotry? The very existence of our planet earth depends on just that.
Hey, how did I get way out there?
A prize for the most children! Ecology and all! How about cloning?
Sincerely,
Tom Lewis
P.S. Am enclosing a self-portrait along with other diagnostic material which in no way reflects my joy of being.
P.S.S. Locally, some of my stuff can be seen in the permanent collection of the Los Angeles Museum of Art.

Obituary from the San Francisco Chronicle on Wed., Aug. 8, 1979:
Private funeral services have been held for Thomas E. Lewis, 70, a well-known San Francisco painter who died last week at Children's Hospital after a long illness.
A native of Southern California, he began his painting career there and in the 1930's was a co-founder of a Laguna Beach group called The Progressive Painters of Southern California.
In 1935, he moved to San Francisco where he designed and built a Telegraph Hill studio and devoted himself to his painting, his plants and to what he called 'social work' on the waterfront.
He befriended the down and out, financially and otherwise, and frequently signed his letters 'an unpaid social worker'.
He painted in both oil and watercolor and was a founder of the California Watercolor School of Painting. He exhibited widely and won many prizes and awards.
His work is represented in private collections and a number of museums, including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Oakland Museum.
He is survived by a brother, James Lewis of Alhambra, and by three sisters, Dorothy Crawford of Oxnard, Marjorie Austin of Rosemead and Ruth Perdew of Cardiff by the Sea.

Obituary #2:
LEWIS, Thomas E. - In San Francisco, August 2, 1979; Thomas E. Lewis, painter, philosopher and friend to all; he began his painting career in Southern California and came to San Francisco in 1935; he designed and built his studio on Telegraph Hill, where he devoted himself to his painting, his plants and to social work along the waterfront; during the 1930's, he, along with Wilson Coles, formed the group known as "The Progressive Painters of Southern California" in Laguna Beach where he maintained a studio; he was the principal founder of "The California Watercolor School of Painting"; Tommy Lewis painted in both oil and watercolor; he is noted for his vital style, vision, quality of work and rare sense of color; he has exhibited widely and has received numerous prizes and awards; his works are well represented in museums and important private collections; he was an avid walker and keen observer; he loved the sun, the sea, and all growing things. Private services.


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