Rev. Dr. DONALD E. LEWIS

Donald E. Lewis, beloved Minister and servant of our Lord Jesus Christ, passed on to heaven early Monday morning, October 27, 2025, at the age of 91.

The son of Lowell Vaden Lewis Sr. and Lillie Wartzick, Don was born on July 7, 1934 on a farm in East Texas not far from the community of Neches where he attended elementary school.

Don attended high school in Palestine, Texas, graduating class of 1952. He then attended the University of Texas at Austin for one year, where he continued his strong academic performance but began to feel God's calling to surrender his life to the ministry.

As he considered how God would use him and how he would continue to be His servant, Don recalled a presentation given years prior at his Church in Neches by a mentor from East Texas Baptist University where he then enrolled and continued his studies.

While attending ETBC in Marshall, Texas, where he obtained his undergraduate degree in 1957, he was drawn to a beautiful classmate, Olivia Faye Todd from the Houston area, who was instrumental in the daily devotional gathering that all the students participated in each morning. Don prayed that if God’s will was for him to marry Olivia, he would feel even more confirmation of his calling to the ministry.

Donald and Olivia were married in June of 1957, the same year during which he was ordained as a minister. Don served at churches primarily in the East Texas area, in Nashville, Tennessee, in Beaumont Texas, then Fort Worth, Texas where he later began his studies at Southwestern Baptist Theological seminary from whence he received his doctorate in 1968. He was pastor of Connell Baptist Church, now Citylight Fort Worth, from 1972 to 1981.

Throughout his early ministry and in various aspects of his education, he accumulated special recognitions along the way and was loved by the congregations he served who admired his commitment to sharing the gospel to all in his own special way of humbleness and humility, driven by the ultimate concern of leading people to God's Plan of salvation through our savior and Lord Jesus Christ.

In 1981, Don directed his ministerial commitment in service to the Baptist general convention of Texas, and then to Tarrant Baptist Association where he mentored young ministers and others associated with the starting of new churches.

Don retired in 1999, pursuing his lifelong hobbies of fishing, hunting, and raising a beautiful vegetable garden each year while he continued to serve as a faithful church member and mentor.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Lowell.

Don is survived by his loving wife, Olivia; his older son and his wife, Keith and Mary Lewis of Keller, and his younger son and his wife, Vaden Todd and Rachel Stas Lewis of Fort Worth, along with three wonderful grandchildren, Kyle Wayne, Matthew Reid, and Ruby Faye; and two amazing great-grandchildren, Wyatt James and Leona Clare.

Family and friends will gather from 9:30 to 10:30 am Saturday, November 1, at Citylight Fort Worth, formerly Connell Baptist Church, 4736 Bryce Avenue, with a service beginning at 10:30 am. Interment will follow at 2:00 pm in Greenwood Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, consideration of contributions Citylight Fort Worth, https://www.connellchurch.org/, in his memory is suggested.

Don's lifelong commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ continues to bear fruit as evidenced by many of those he ministered to and their families. He was deeply loved and will be missed by many.