Alfred "Al" Esper Lewis, Jr, "Skip", age 79, of Newark, Ohio, passed away Thursday, August 8, 2024, at Licking Memorial Hospital. He was born in Abington, Pennsylvania on March 15, 1945, to the late Alfred Esper Lewis, Sr. and Marjorie Rose (Hudson) Lewis.

He graduated from Clearfield High School in Pennsylvania in 1964 and went on to attend West Virginia University, earning a Bachelor's degree in journalism in 1969.

Al worked as a public relations executive for AEP and Anchor Hocking then went on to publish and edit a weekly newspaper (Dresden Transcript) which he purchased and owned for many years before retiring in 2018.

He thoroughly enjoyed restoring houses and classic cars. He also loved to golf, especially at Lewis family reunions held all across the country. Road trips throughout the USA were one of his favorite pastimes, and completing a 7,000-mile cross country family trip was one of his life's joys. He also traveled with his brothers as well as with family to France.

Al is survived by his best friend and loving wife of 54 years, Maryam (Weller) Lewis; his two daughters, Amy Rose Rule and her husband Ben of Newark and Emily Marie Caragher and her husband John of Irvine, CA. His two sons-in-law were very special to him; he referred to them as his "sons-in-heart." Al is also survived by his five grandchildren, Gavin, Remy, Vincent, Molly, and James; one brother, John (Marylan) Lewis of Southport, NC; one French foreign-exchange daughter, Sandrine Guinot of Carcassonne, France.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his three brothers, Jim, Dave, and Bill Lewis.

In accordance with Al's wishes, no services will be held at this time. Family gatherings were a huge part of his life and he would love to have those continue in his honor. His immediate family thanks everyone for their wishes.