Lewis Andrew James, 79, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, April 11, 2011, three weeks after being diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Annabelle James of Columbus, Ohio; and his wife Josephine Summers James who passed away in November of 2010 after a ten-year battle with gastric cancer.  Lewis is survived by his loving daughters, Jennifer James of Clermont, Florida, Valerie (Jim) Rutherford, of Cape Canaveral, Florida, and Vicki James of Sterling, VA, his daughter from a previous marriage.  Lew was a member of The Grand Lodge of West Virginia, a 32° Mason, and in 2009 attained the high honor of being a Scottish Rite Mason for fifty years. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps for two tours of duty, and was a Korean War veteran.  After his honorable discharge at the rank of Sergeant from the Marine Corps, he began working for North American Aviation as an airplane mechanic.  Then he went to work for the U. S. Army Parts Catalog Center in Columbus, Ohio.  Lew then went to work for Sears, Roebuck and Company as a warehouse and dock worker.  He was proud to have worked his way up to the position of Chief Maintenance Engineer in the 17 years he worked for them.  He moved his family from Columbus, Ohio to Largo, Florida in 1981, and went to work for Robinson's of Florida, a local department store, as their Chief Maintenance Engineer.  In 1992 he  moved his family to Clermont, Florida when he was offered the position of Chief Maintenance Engineer of The Florida Mall in Orlando, Florida.  He retired from his job at The Florida Mall in 1996.  During his retirement, he enjoyed working in his yard, working on his cars, and traveling to visit family and friends.  While on these 'vacations' he worked with the Masonic Lodge in West Virginia on Habitat for Humanity builds, and did odd jobs and home repairs for those who couldn't do for themselves.



Graveside Services will be held for Lewis James and his wife, Josephine James who passed in November 2010, 10 AM Friday, May 6th at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell.



In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a small donation be made to either The American Cancer Society, or The Cleveland Clinic-Taussig Cancer Institute, in Cleveland, Ohio.



Cremation and memorial services for Lewis and his wife Josephine are being handled through Becker Funeral Home 806 West Minneola Avenue, Clermont, Florida  34711.