Dr. Ronald Lewis Sr. MD 

Published 5:00 am Friday, January 10, 2025

Dr. Ronald Moore Lewis MD, 91, of Lake Charles passed away Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, in the comfort of his home.  Dr. Lewis was born Sept. 8, 1933 in El Dorado, Ark. to William Colvin Lewis and Mary Catherine Hammonds Lewis where he was raised. 

He completed his Pre-Med degree in 1954 at Louisiana Tech University where he was a proud member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity.  He attained his Medical Doctorate degree in 1958 at the University of Arkansas School of Medicine.  He continued his medical internship, Surgery residency and in 1962 completed his Anesthesiology residency. He began his career as a member of the Teaching staff of the University of Arkansas School of Medicine in the Department of Anesthesiology and began Private practice in El Dorado, Ark. and also served as Head of the Anesthesia Department at Warner Brown Hospital.   Upon relocating, Dr. Lewis served private practice in Shreveport, La. followed by Alexandria, La. until his move to Lake Charles in 1988, where he began practice with Lake Charles Anesthesiology.  He specialized in open heart, major vascular, Obstetrics epidural and regional blocks.  In 2009, he began private practice with Anesthesia Associates of Lake Charles until his retirement in 2014.

He was affiliated with many hospitals including Lake Charles Memorial Hospital, West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital, Christus St Patrick Hospital, Lake Area Medical Center.  Dr. Lewis was a well-respected physician of his industry. 

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He served the Louisiana State Medical Society as Delegate from 7th District Physician Health Committee; St. Patrick Hospital as Co-Director Depart of Anesthesia; Lake Charles Memorial Hospital as Chairman Department of Anesthesia, CPI Committee Chairman and Bylaws Committee; Surgicare of Lake Charles as Medical Director and Calcasieu Medical Society as Secretary and Treasurer. 

Dr. Lewis was a member of the American Society of Anesthesiologist, American Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologist, American Medical Association, Calcasieu Parish Medical Society, Louisiana Society of Anesthesiology, Louisiana State Medical Society and International Anesthesia Research Society.

Nearest to his heart, Dr. Lewis was a member of Eastwood Pentecostal Church.

Dr. Lewis enjoyed working crossword puzzles and “books, books, books” as an avid reader with a extensive library.  He loved golfing.  It had been his favorite past time most of his adult life. Amongst his greatest times was traveling at least three to four times a year to his home in Grand Cayman.  In 1991, he earned a license in scuba diving, and over the years, he often shared his passion with family and many friends, teaching them to dive and introducing them to the beauty of diving the Caymans.  His last dive, #475, was at the age of 74. 

Dr. Lewis will be most remembered for his love and devotion to his family, his kind, generous heart, always giving, noticing things that would be helpful and ensuring others had what they needed and were well taken care of.

He leaves to honor his memory, his wife of 30 years, Tina Simonelli Lewis of Lake Charles; six children, James Austin Aguirre of Nashville, Tenn., Layla Lewis Gallagher (Jim) of Lakeway, Texas, Dr. Ron Lewis Jr. (Cindy) of Lake Charles, David Lewis (Kaye) of El Dorado, Ark., Dr. Stephen Lewis (Liz) of Bossier City and Julia Lewis Kordsmeier (Tom) of Bryant, Ark.; grandchildren, Thomas Xavier Gallager, John Lewis, Kasey Lewis, Wade Lewis, William Lewis, Landon Lewis, Trenton Lewis, Christopher Kordsmeier and Katherine Kordsmeier Hampton; great-grandchildren, Rawson Lewis, Clayton Lewis, Hudson Lewis, Kaylee Hampton and Ella Kordsmeier; brothers-in-law, Dennis Simonelli (Diane) of Minden, La., Angelo Simonelli (Jamie), Dusty Simonelli, Michael Simonelli (April), all of Leesville; niece, Michelle Anderson; nephews, Michael Simonelli, Matthew Simonelli (Anna) and Marty Goodner (Ashley), and his extended family, and many friends of Eastwood Pentecostal.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Sexton Lewis; mother-in-law, Ida Mae Carr Simonelli, and brothers-in-law, John Simonelli and Rusty Simonelli.

Memorial services for Dr. Lewis will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025 at Eastwood Pentecostal Church under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home.  Pastor Aaron Lopez will officiate.  Visitation Sunday will begin at 12:30 p.m. at the church.

Words of comfort to the family may be expressed at www.johnsonfuneral home.net.