Ross was born in Bryan, TX on January 29, 1938. He grew up on a farm and cattle ranch in Normangee, TX where he met the love of his life, Judy Smith, his sophomore year in high school. After proudly graduating from Normangee High in 1956, he enrolled at Texas A & M. He and Judy were married in 1957 and he graduated with a business degree in 1960. He was told at a job fair he wasn’t IBM material, so he went to the next table where Kroger hired him into their grocery manager trainee program. He and Judy moved to Houston in 1960 where he began his grocery career. He worked for several companies throughout the years including Henke & Pillot, Kroger, Lewis & Coker, and Davis Food City. It was at Food City where he worked his way through the ranks to become president of the company. He had a keen aptitude for dealing with vendors and salesmen which gave him the reputation as one of the best buyers in the industry yet respected by all. In the meantime, he and Judy raised 2 boys, Randy & Mike. He instilled in the boys his work ethic and determination just like his mother and father had done to him.
After leaving Food City in 1993, he and 6 other fellow workers and friends started their own grocery chain called Food Town. Using their knowledge and hard work, the “7” grew the business into the success it is today. Great customer service, clean stores, and low prices grew Food Town from 3 stores in 1994 to 30 stores in the Houston area today. Ross & Judy retired to their farm in Hempstead in 2015 where he could ride his tractor and feed their cows. He loved his family and friends and, through his quiet generosity, helped multitudes of people throughout his life. He will be missed and remembered by many - his witty comments and wide smile are legendary. He was a member of Pine Island Baptist Church.
Ross Carroll Lewis, age 82 of Hempstead, passed away on December 7, 2020. He is preceded in death by his parents Roy and Maude Lewis, grandparents Clayton and Annie Lewis & Ada and Claude Moore, nephew Justin Lewis, and brother-in-law Corky Smith. He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Judy Smith Lewis, sons Randy Lewis and wife Rita, Mike Lewis and wife Terrie; brother Dean Lewis and wife Betty & family; grandchildren Ross and Erica Lewis, Jessie and Tony Trimboli, Stacy and Richard Foos, Clay Lewis, Evan Lewis; great grandchildren Cheyenne Lewis, Waylon Lewis, Cadence Trimboli, Beckett Trimboli, Charlotte Foos, Lila Foos; also Buster and Ann G. Smith & family, Ann P. Smith & family; as well as many friends and business acquaintances.
A private family funeral service may be attended virtually on the Pine Island Baptist Church website, https://pibc.church/. The service will take place on Wednesday December 16, 2020 at 11am with Pastor Tom Dobbs officiating. Interment will be 3pm at Plainview Cemetery in Normangee. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your church or favorite charity.
Arrangements are under the direction of Canon Funeral Home.