Leslie Wayne Lewis

Leslie Wayne Lewis, 91, of Rogers, Ark., passed away at his residence Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013. He was born April 14, 1922, in Centerton, Ark., to Orin Lewis and Velma Brown Lewis. He graduated from Bentonville High School and proudly served in the United States Navy during World War II in the Pacific theater as an aircraft mechanic on aircraft carriers. After the war, he became a pioneer in the civilian aviation industry in development of aircraft maintenance methods and procedures, and held one of the earliest aircraft and engine maintenance licenses in the country, owning a successful aircraft maintenance business, Modern Aero, in Minneapolis for many years until retirement. Wayne was an avid Razorback baseball fan, and enjoyed traveling and exploring the country by car. He was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Teresa Loomis; one grandson, Keith Lewis; one sister, Dorothy Wenckowski; and two brothers, Howard Lewis and Ellis Lewis. Wayne is survived by his precious wife of 70 years, Edna Sanborn Lewis; one son, Fred Lewis and wife, Shirley, of Rogers; two daughters, Sue Perro and husband, Dennis, of Farmington, Minn., Iris Rorwick and Jim Smitson of Rogers; one brother, Ben Lewis of Richmond, Va.; five grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17, 2013, at Stockdale-Moody Funeral Services in Rogers. Funeral services will be Monday, Nov. 18, 2013, at 1 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in downtown Rogers, with the Rev. Sandra Wanasek officiating. Burial will be in Barron Cemetery in Vaughn, Ark. Arrangements are by Stockdale-Moody Funeral Services in Rogers. Online condolences may be made at stockdalefuneral.com.