Obituary of Alvin Thomas Lewis Jr.

First Sergeant Alvin Thomas "Tommy" Lewis Jr., U.S. Army, Retired of Terra Alta, WV (Alpine Lake Community) and formerly of Mathews, VA passed away Thursday July 20, 2023, at home. The son of the late Alvin T. Lewis Sr and Shirley Vreeland Lewis Hudgins, he was born July 30, 1954, in Newport News, VA. A native of Mathews, VA, 1SG Lewis returned to his hometown after 23 years in 1995. He owned and operated Tommy's Lawn Care Service for 20 years. He volunteered with the Mathews County Crime Solvers for nine years and worked part time as a fitness coach at the Mathews Family YMCA for six years. Tommy was most active in Mathews Post 83, The American Legion and served as Post 83 Commander, 3rd District vice Commander, Post Adjutant, Post Finance Officer and Veterans Service Officer, as VSO he additionally volunteered at the Hampton, VA Medical Center for three years. In 2004 he was selected "Department of Virginia Legionnaire of the Year". Post 83 received the Department of Virginia Americanism Award for Small Post in 2004 for the work Tommy did for Americanism, Children & Youth in Mathews Schools. He was liaison for BSA Troup #14 and served over 16 years as Chairman for Virginia Boys State, Virginia State Police Law Cadet Program and Public Affairs Officer for the post. Tommy acquired new Ceremonial Riffles for the Post in 2002 and initiated many fundraisers, Memorials and Dedications including the Liberty Square Memorial Monument listing the names of all the Mathews men who died during war and conflicts from WW1 to present. He drafted the Virginia Senate Joint Resolution #250 commending the American seafarers in the United States Merchant Marine and Maritime Service from Mathews County. Tommy acquired building materials and coordinated the building of the Picnic Pavilion by members and supervised the building of the picnic tables by soon to be Eagle Scouts. He coordinated the installation of 29 new double pane windows and new tile floors in the East wing and Kitchen at the post. His love showed brightest for the Honor Guard and Rifle Team which conducted Military Funeral Honors for the families of over 250 Veterans while he was an active member and Team Captain. He personally conducted Memorial Services for the families of one dozen veterans at the family's request. Tommy was most often seen serving the dining room at "The World Famous Breakfast" First Sunday of every month. In 2002 he added pulled pork BBQ to the semi-annual fish fry fundraisers. "Why; because a number of people don't eat fish." He attended Westville Baptist Church for 50 years. After retirement from the Army, he was baptized again and served on half a dozen committees and was Youth Director and Sunday School Teacher for six years. Tommy completed the Peninsula Rainbow Emmaus Walk PR-17 and let Jesus shine through him as often as possible. Tommy entered the Army in 1972 after graduating MHS and served with: the Army Security Agency, the Army Intelligence and Security Command and the National Security Agency with four Military Occupation Specialties. He retired, Electronic Warfare, Signal Intelligence Chief serving as Operations Sergeant at the Department of the Army Technical Control and Analysis Element, 704th Military Intelligence Brigade, National Security Agency. He completed over a dozen courses at the National Cryptologic School/Institute, and was an Honor Graduate at each level of Army supervisor courses: 8th Army Non Commissioned Officer Academy, the basic NCO Course and Advanced NCO Course, US Army Training Center and School, Fort Devens, MA. He served five years as Senior Instructor; Writer & Evaluator for several Signals Intelligence courses and developed the Warrant Officer Technical Certification Course for MOS 352H. H completed 30 hours of CLEP and completed courses at Northern Virginia Community College, Manassas and the University of Hawaii. His military honors included the legion of Merit, Legionnaire; Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal, Korea Service Medal, Overseas Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, combat Patch Award, the Meritorious Unit Award, Superior Unit Award and National Defense Service Medal with five clusters, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and several other awards, citations and certificates. In 1982 Staff Sergeant Lewis was presented the National Foreign Intelligence Board's "Citation of Excellence" by Vice Admiral Bobby Inman, Director, National Security Agency. This award recognized his achievements on behalf of the Intelligence Community for superior performance during the period of December 17, 1981-January 28, 1982. The citation was signed by the Director Central intelligence. Tommy is survived by his lovely wife, Catherine Florence Lewis; Son Austin Z. Jones; sister, Bonnie B. Hudgins; niece Julie Hudgins; nephews, SFC John D. Hudgins, US Army and Michael and Katrina Marshall and their children. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Beverly LB. Marshall Hughes. Memorial may be made to American Legion Post 83, PO Box 561, Mathews, VA 23109 Arthur H. Wright Funeral Home will be handling arrangements. Inurnment at Arlington National Cemetery will be held at a later date. Condolences may be made at www.arthurwrightfuneralhome.com