C. E. (Bud) Lewis

C. E. (Bud) Lewis died at age 88 after a courageous, but quick battle with pancreatic cancer at his home in Castle Pines, Colorado on Feb. 16, 2023. Bud lived a life of travel, and shared his passion for his Kansas heritage with his family and friends. A life well lived, well-traveled and full of friends, family and love is exactly what Bud was blessed with.

Born to Emmett and Verda Fogo Lewis in Burr Oak, Kansas, on Nov. 23, 1934, Bud was raised on the family farm that was homesteaded in the 1880s. In 1953, Bud graduated from Burr Oak High School and attended Kansas State University. Bud studied engineering and was a member of Farmhouse Fraternity and ROTC. Upon graduation in 1957, Bud joined the Air Force and began military flight training. Bud and Marilyn Nease Lewis (from Bucklin, Kansas) were married in February 1958.

Bud was assigned to the Strategic Air Command (SAC) and stationed with the Air Force in Texas, New York, California and Ohio until 1966. Bud began a commercial pilot career with Braniff Airways in Dallas, Texas, until 1982. In 1977, Bud married Traude Mayr (from Denver, Colorado) and moved to Littleton, Colorado. Bud worked for a charter airline, American Trans Air, in 1985 until his retirement in 1994. Bud met Bobbi Kay (from New York, New York) in 1987, and they built a home together in Pine, Colorado, then moved to Castle Pines, Colorado, in 2018.

Bud shared many interests with his family and friends, including safari excursions to Africa, hunting, fishing, gardening, watching K-State ball- games, enjoying chardonnay, visiting in Kansas, and his beloved dog, Malindi. Through his captain duties with ATA, Bud made several round-the-world charter trips and always enjoyed seeing the amazing sights during his travels. One of Bud's greatest pleasures was time with grandchildren and family.

Bud is survived by his partner, Roberta Kay, Castle Pines, Colorado; his three children: Kelley Lewis, Stormville, New York; Cameron Lewis and wife, Renee, LaGrange Park, Illinois; Christina Leone and husband, Giancarlo, Aurora, Colorado; grandchildren: Iris Benjamin, Harrisonburg, Virginia; Ethan Benjamin, Stormville, New York; Giselle and Nolan Lewis, LaGrange Park, Illinois; Gianna and Eva Leone, Aurora, Colorado; sister, Jerre Lewis Mann, Littleton, Colorado; brother-in-law, Kermit Jeffery, Northbranch, Kansas; and many nieces and nephews.

Bud was preceded in death by his parents, Emmett and Verda Lewis; and sisters, Lonnie Diehl Buckley and Loyce Jeffery.

A family celebration of life and toast to Bud's memory will be planned for the summer in Burr Oak, Kansas.