Herbert Gerald Lewis, 76

Herbert Gerald Lewis, 76, of Fallbrook, born August 7, 1928, in Mercer County, Missouri, passed away January 8, 2005, after a year-long battle with lung cancer.

He is survived by his wife, Gleam Lewis; daughter and son-in-law Camilla and R.D. Boisvert of Topeka, Kansas; step-son and daughter-in-law Brent and Yoko Smith of Chula Vista, California; sister Sylvia McCann of Cookeville, Tennessee; sister-in-law Mae Lewis of Phoenix, Arizona; brother and sister-in-law Jack and Ida Lewis of Indianola, Iowa; brother and sister-in-law John and Marge Lewis of Antioch, Tennessee; three grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and loving nieces and nephews.

Mr. Lewis is responsible for building many homes in and around Los Angeles County and Orange County. He came to San Diego County in 1972 and settled in Fallbrook’s South Morro Hills area. There he designed and built numerous custom homes and developed “Bell Homes” in Fallbrook. His prize addition to Fallbrook was La Estancia Inn, which he built and managed for over 16 years.

He was proud of his family, his service in the United States Army, his private pilot license, his extensive travels around the world, and his love of fishing.

Mr. Lewis is well known for donating a vast number of hours to various non-profit organizations. He favored the Fallbrook Art and Cultural Center, Rally for Children, the Fallbrook Land Conservancy, the Angel Society of Fallbrook and the South Morro Hills Association. He was known to many as “Santa,” as he liked to dress the part and visit local children on Christmas Eve.

All are invited by the family to attend his memorial services, to be held Thursday, January 20, 2005, at 2:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church of Fallbrook, 1844 Winterhaven Road, Fallbrook.

In lieu of flowers, the family is grateful for memorial donations to Rally for Children, “Arts in the Park Community Project,” PO Box 2575, Fallbrook CA 92088.