Lewis William Carl Sr.

Carl, Lewis William, Sr. age 73 of Fairborn, went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Friday, Nov 9, at 7:53 p.m. with his loving wife, seven children and other family members at his side. Lewis was born Nov 15, 1933, in Dayton, OH, the son of Lewis Walton and Helen Marquerite Carl. He married his sweetheart, Lora Mae Cox on January 31, 1953. He joined the US Army, 550th Tank Battalion and proudly served our country from 1954-1956. Lewis held many jobs while supporting his wife and children. He drove a Dayton City Transit bus in the 1950's to early 60's. His Transit bus is on display in Dayton at the Carrillon Park Transportation Pavilion. He worked 27 years for the Dayton Journal Herald at WPAFB Area A and C. He retired from Sherman Tool after 30 years of service. He was a member of Rona Community Church for 27 years and served as a trustee and Sunday school bus driver. Lewis enjoyed fishing and hunting with his children and grandchildren. He is best known for his gift to water-dowse. He had the unique and, as he would say, "God-given ability" to find and accurately determine the depth of streams. Lewis loved to share that Jesus was the Living Water and that we all needed to be connected to His Stream. During Dessert Storm, Wright-Patterson sought him out for his water-dowsing abilities. Many people, locally and long-distance, sought him to find underground water streams, thus saving the homes and lives of many. His family knew him best as a man dedicated to taking care of them. As grandchildren were born, Lewis slowed down and loved to spend time with each of them, telling jokes and his many stories. He also constructed a playhouse in his backyard for outdoor play. Survived by his devoted wife of 54 years, Lora Mae; sons, Lewis “Sonny” W. Jr. (Jane), Steven M., Philip A. (Darla), Theodore “Ted” M. (Tracy), Daniel S. (Michael Castle); daughters, Alice M. (Chris) Gillaugh and Susan “Annette” (Landon) Fideler; sisters, Sandra Peacock of St Peters, MO, Judy Fraker of Houston, TX; brother, Joe Carl of Albuquerque, NM; 25 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren; “adopted” daughter, Jodi, her three children and one grandchild; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends. Lewis was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Martha Thatcher and Barbara Potts; brother Clifford Carl; granddaughters, Miranda Kelly, and twins Julia and Joanna Fideler. Special thanks to the wonderful service of Kettering Home Care, the E.R. and ICU at Community Hospital in Springfield. Family will receive friends 5:00-8:00 PM Monday, November 12, 2007 at Routsong Funeral Home, 2100 East Stroop Road, Kettering. Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM Tuesday at Rona Community Church, 1082 Rona Parkway Drive, Fairborn, OH with Rev. Mark Douras and Rev. Lewis W. Carl, III officiating. Interment will follow in Byron Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be directed to the needs of the Missionary Fund in care of Rona Community Church in memory of Mr. Lewis Carl.

Funeral Home:
Kettering Routsong Funeral Home
2100 E. Stroop Rd.
Kettering, OH
US 45429