Jim ‘J.C.’ Lewis, 86, of Houston passed away on Saturday, March 1, 2008, at his residence. Services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 5, at Calvary Baptist Church with interment following at Bryan City Cemetery.

J.C. was born in the small town of Camilla, Ga., in 1921. When J.C. was still a small boy, the family moved to Bedias, Texas, where he attended school.

In 1937, J.C. married Pebble and had a son, Jerry. J.C. served in the U.S. Army during World War II and saw extensive combat in Europe with the 45th Infantry Division. He was there on the day that Dachau Concentration Camp was liberated.

He received the Purple Heart, the Good Conduct Medal and the Combat Infantry Badge. J.C. did not often talk about the horrors of war, instead, he talked about good things, like seeing the sights of Paris while he was recuperating in an Army hospital (only J.C. would turn being wounded into a chance for a vacation trip). He loved to travel and said the best assignment he had in the Army was as a jeep driver while part of the Army of Occupation. He said it was fun because he got to see a lot of the country.

After JC retired from Texas A-M University as a cook, he had another job that he loved, delivering cars for a dealership. He said that he had visited every state in the Union several times over. He also served as a deacon for Calvary Baptist Church.

He was an avid football fan and enjoyed cooking and reading. J.C. suffered an eye injury while at work one day and lost sight in one eye. Years later, doctors were able to restore his sight with a new surgical procedure.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Pebble Lewis, and son, Jerry C. Lewis.

Survivors include his brother, Tex Lewis of Bryan; grandchildren, James Nate Duerer, Michael Duerer and Michelle Ferstl; great-grandchildren, Chance Barrington and Randi Barrington; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to the charity of one’s choice.