Nilah Jean (Hoover) Lewis

LEWIS, Nilah Jean (Hoover), age 102, of Centerville, passed away Saturday, July 13, 2024.

Nilah was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, and friend. She left this world on Saturday July 13, just days after her 102nd birthday.

Born to Perry and Glenna Hoover on July 9, 1922, she was a lifelong Daytonian with ties to West Milton, Kettering, and Centerville. After graduating from Steele High School, she married Jack Lewis, a WWII veteran. They had a daughter, Karen, born in 1952. In the year 2000, Nilah and Jack moved from their home in Kettering to the cottages at St. Leonard.

Nilah loved spending time with her friends and family. She was an avid bridge player and actively played until she was 100 years old. For many years, she enjoyed vacationing in South Carolina with her granddaughter Whitney and the extended family including Nola Thompson, her son in law's mother. Nilah loved cooking and entertaining friends and family. She was an excellent hostess that made guests feel special and welcome with beautiful flowers and table settings. She was always fashionable and well groomed; appearances were important to her. Nilah was interested in her community and the world around her. She volunteered in the Kettering Public schools, served as a Brownie Scout leader with her dear friend Norma Jones and committed hours to volunteer service.

She was bright, articulate and well read, often sending newspaper clips to her family about interesting topics, new books and recipes that she had tried. She gave her love of all things beautiful to her daughter and granddaughter always enjoying a trip to the Dayton Art Institute, concerts and plays, and regular visits to Aullwood Audubon to enjoy the gardens.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Perry and Glenna Hoover, her sister, Mary Ellen Hayslip, and her loving husband Jack Lewis who passed away in 2011. Nilah is survived by her daughter, Karen Lewis Thompson (David) of Charleston, SC and their daughter Whitney Lewis Feld (Mitchell); and great grandson Cooper Lewis Feld. Private graveside burial in Riverside Cemetery, West Milton, OH.

 Gifts in her memory may be made to Ohio's Hospice, 324 Wilmington Ave., Dayton, Ohio 45420 (OHIOHOSPICE.Org) or St. Leonard Benevolence Fund, 8100 Cylo Road, Centerville, Ohio.