|
Life Legacy
Beth E. Lewis-95-Rockford, died at her home on Wednesday, February 3, 2016. Beth was the daughter of Archie A. and Otelia Hilgren Lewis and was born in Abingdon, IL on January 2, 1921. She began her undergraduate work at Knox College and continued with her Masters degree in Social Work at the University of Illinois. She began her career with the Red Cross as Regional Child Welfare Supervisor and then 38 years with the Department of Children and Family Services in Rock Island , transferred to Rockford in 1965. She retired in 1988. Her interests included playing bridge, Birdies and Bogies golf group, traveling to 24 different countries including an audience with Pope John 23. She also was an International representative to 2 international conferences in Rome and the Netherlands.
She was invited to Israel to learn and live Social Services as a Jew would learn. She volunteered with Sen. Joyce Holmberg to show how her office could help with Children and Families. She was honored after retirement as National Social worker of the Year and received the Illinois Dept. of Human Rights award from the Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission in 2000. She was on the committee for Comprehensive Child Care to Community Day Care centers for legal and day care issues. Orton Keye Center was one of the first established. She was involved with the Day Care committee for United Way and served on the Board of Rosecrance, the Christ United Methodist Church district board for women, the Church and Society and the Annual Conference delegate for Health and Welfare issues. She also worked with Protestant Community Services. She is survived by her chosen family member, Mary Maggio, her beloved caretaker, Zaneta Huntley, faithful neighbor and friends, Roberta and Bill Flaherty and cousins, Tom and Ellie Moore of Ann Arbor, MI. No services are scheduled and in lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Christ United Methodist Church or the Rosecrance Center. Private burial will be in the family cemetery at Abingdon, IL. For online register, visit weltefuneral.com.
|
|
|
Born: January 2, 2026
Death: February 3, 2026
|
This memorial provided by:
Julian-Poorman-Welte Funeral Home
Rockford, IL
|
