Darrell Leon Lewis

Darrell Leon Lewis, 82, of Morganton, passed away on Friday, June 21, 2019.  Leon was born in Lincolnton, NC on April 18, 1937 and grew up in Gastonia, NC.  The oldest child of Darrell Lionel Lewis and Nancy Caldwell Lewis, Leon was an excellent student and standout athlete at Gastonia High School (later named Frank L. Ashley and now Ashbrook High School).  Leon obtained the rank of Life with Boy Scout Troop 6 sponsored by First Baptist Church of Gastonia, where he was also an active youth member.  In 1955 Leon attended the North Carolina Boys State Program for rising high school seniors.  Recruited by notable football coaches such as Carl Stasavich of Lenoir Rhyne, Frank Howard of Clemson, and Bobby Dodd of Georgia Tech, Leon eventually decided to play football at Wake Forest University.  At Wake Forest Leon was also a member of Delta Sigma Phi fraternity and in the ROTC.  After graduating from Wake Forest in 1959 Leon was drafted by the Baltimore Colts of the National Football League, but chose instead, after serving in the U.S. Army and Army Reserves as a Captain, what became a successful and long career with The Delmar Company of Charlotte, NC.

Leon and his wife of sixty years, Elinor Geer Taylor Lewis of the home, are active members of First Presbyterian Church of Morganton where Leon has served as an Elder, Deacon, choir member, and Sunday school teacher.  Besides his wife, Leon is survived by two children, Marie Shuford (Robert) of Charlotte and William “Bill” Lewis (Shannon) of Fort Worth, TX; grandchildren, William and Avery Shuford, and Megan, Nathan, and Samuel Lewis; sister Jeanne Lewis; and brothers, Robert Lewis (Jane), Michael Lewis, and Donald Lewis (Skye).

A celebration of Leon’s life will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Morganton on Saturday, June 29 at 2PM, with Reverend John Hagmann officiating.  The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church Music Department and the Wake Forest University Deacon Club.

Sossoman Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.