Donald Lewis Sharp Memorial Hospice bear was found at a local thrift shop in Lomita Village San Diego, California in 2017. Upon inspection we realized this was no ordinary doll. A small card attached to the artifact lists this item as a memory bear for Donald Lewis. The memorial bear was presented by Sharp Memorial Hospice Care of San Diego.
Memory bears or dolls are hand crafted by members of the Sharp Memorial Hospice Care Memory Bear Program. Families provide cherished garments a favorite blouse, shirt or pajamas that belonged to a loved one. The garments are then sewn into a handmade memory bears. These cuddly bears symbolize a special memory that family members can hold close to their hearts forever. In the case of Donald Lewis the bear was made from a favorite shirt.
We did some research and believe this Sharp Memorial Hospice Care bear was made for Donald William Lewis [birth 04/04/1990 – death June 23, 2004] see obituary below
Dan Scott
Donald William Lewis Obituary Condolences
LEWIS, DONALD WILLIAM Donald William Lewis joined his Lord on June 23, 2004 at the age of 85. Don was born April 4, 1919 in Owatonna, Minnesota to Len and Hazel Lewis.
At age 9, his family moved to San Diego where Don lived most of his life. Don joined the Navy at age 17 and was a Chief Petty Officer and Chief of the Boat aboard the submarine U.S.S. Piranha during WWII. He served in the Navy for 20 years, then became a partner in two businesses and later an engineer at Sharp Memorial Hospital.
Don’s strong will, great sense of humor, and incredible intellect combined to make him loved and respected by all who knew him. Don was affectionately known as “Pop” to his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and all the neighborhood kids. Don is survived by his loving wife Ada, his son William Lewis and wife Beverly, son-in-law Roland Eddy, eight grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. His daughter Evelyn Eddy and his two brothers, Robert and Kenneth Lewis, preceded Don in death.
Don and Ada were blessed to celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary on December 3, 2003. A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, June 28, at North Clairemont United Methodist Church, 4570 Mt. Herbert Ave., San Diego, followed by a reception at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the American Heart Association. Please sign the guest book at obituaries.uniontrib.com Published in The San Diego Union Tribune on June 26, 2004