Obituary of John Franklin Lewis

John Franklin Lewis, age 88 of Boone, passed away Friday, September 30, 2022. He was a native of Watauga County and the son of the late W. Clinton and Dora Culler Lewis. John Franklin Lewis was born several weeks premature at the family farm on Meat Camp on August 13, 1934. He came into the world fighting and never stopped from then on. He faced and beat almost impossible odds time and again. It seemed those "close calls" caused John to grab ahold of life with both hands. That zest for life drew people to him and he shined his brightest being at the center of the fun or holding a captive audience with stories about his multitude of adventures. The farm was too small to contain John so when he was old enough, he enlisted in the US Army, later being stationed in Germany. This is where he met Anna Elisabeth Schopf at the roller skating rink on the Army base. They were later married in Nelligen Germany before a priest on December 13, 1957 and then married again the next day by the Army Chaplin on December 14th. John often said "I married the prettiest girl in all of Germany… and just to be sure she wouldn't get away, I married her twice!" Their adventures spanned nearly 65 years. They lived in Germany and multiple states in the US and traveled extensively. Together they experienced the world with hearts wide open, all while building a beautiful family and happy life. John was a successful farmer, soldier, mechanic, outdoorsman, building contractor and building inspector. He also served as President of VFW Post 7031 for several years. However, he most excelled in the roles of husband, dad, son, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. He adored animals, children, strawberry ice cream and mischief; kept a pristine yard, built hundreds of homes and accumulated thousands of friendships. He was a man of integrity, wit, faith, kindness, intelligence, and strong work ethic. John Franklin Lewis fit at least three or four lifetime's worth of adventures into his 88 years and he achieved it with grace and style. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Joseph Clinton Lewis, and his sister, Sandra Elizabeth Ward. He is survived by his wife, Anna Elisabeth Schopf Lewis; two daughters, Deborah Ann Lewis Graham and husband Craig of Oveido, Florida, and Brenda Lewis Brittain and husband Roger of Boone; one son John F. Lewis, Jr. and wife Christy of Charlotte; a step-son, Robert Schopf of Grafenau, Germany. Two sisters, Jean Blizzard of Winston-Salem, and Ellen Grunewald of Leesburg, Virginia. Two brothers, William Lewis of Vero Beach, Florida, and Walter Lewis of Boone. Grandchildren, Kathryn Graham, Quinton Ross Lewis, Ethan Lewis, Owen Joseph Lewis, Ava Elisabeth Lewis, Claudia Schmidts, Sandra Simmet. Two step-grandsons, Kyle and Kurt Graham. He is also survived by two special family friends, Johnny Councill and Joey Miller. Services for John Franklin Lewis will be conducted Sunday, October 9, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. in Meat Camp Baptist Church. Pastor Mike Townsend will officiate. The family will receive friends prior to the services from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Burial, with military honors provided by American Legion Post # 130 and DAV Chapter 90, will follow in Meat Camp Baptist Church Cemetery. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Watauga County Project on Aging, 132 Poplar Grove Connector, Suite A, Boone, NC 28607, VFW Post 7031 Boone, or the local chapter of the DAV. Online condolences may be shared with the Lewis family at the website www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com. Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Lewis family.