THOMAS R. LEWIS

Private graveside service for Thomas Robert Lewis of Tallahassee, Fla., was held Jan. 30, followed by a memorial service at Trinity United Methodist Church. Abbey Funeral Home of Tallahassee was in charge of arrangements.

Lewis, 86, died Thursday, Jan. 28, 1993, in Tallahassee.

He was born Nov. 23, 1906, in Cape Girardeau, son of Thomas H. and Catharine Tisdale Lewis. He first married Lora McElyea, who preceded him in death. He later married Frances Gibson.

He attended Central High School and received associate and bachelor degrees from Southeast Missouri State University.

After teaching several years in area schools and in Illinois, he received master and doctorate degrees from the University of Iowa.

He became communications professor and later associate dean of the graduate school at Florida State University. Lewis was a past president of Southern Speech Association and past editor of the Journal of Communication.

Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Barbara Payne of Frostproof, Fla.; a son, Thomas R. Lewis Jr. of Melbourne, Fla.; twin sister, Catharine Bock of Cape Girardeau; six grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; three stepdaughters and a stepson.

He was preceded in death by two brothers.