Lewis T. Gemmill,

Lewis Thomas Gemmill, Sr., 98, of Lancaster, PA, died at his residence Monday, July 15, 2013. He was the son of the late Thomas Zachariah and Susan Mae Hitchens Gemmill. Lewis entered this world March 27, 1915 on the dining room table in Wilmington, Delaware. His church and family were always important parts of his life. In his youth, he participated in the church choir in Wilmington in order to attend summer camp sponsored by the Du Pont family. Coming to maturity in the time of the Great Depression, he postponed his education to provide for the care of his mother and sister. His athletic ability drew scholarship offers in football from Ohio State, Temple, and Penn. He declined the offers in order to care for his disabled father and Depression-era family. Lew graduated from Drexel Institute of Technology Evening College with a degree in Chemical Engineering. Before World War II, he worked in the chemical industry in California. He enlisted in the Marines and served in the occupation of Japan. After the war, he returned to the East Coast and continued his career. Lew was for many years a salesman for the DuPont Corporation selling pigments to the paint, paper and manufacturing industries in the Mid-Atlantic states and Puerto Rico. He was a leader and President of trade organizations important to his industry. He retired in 1978. Wherever he lived, membership and participation in church life was important. He served as a Eucharistic minister, vestryman, and other leadership roles. The best remembrances of Lew are his sharp wit which continued through the very end of his life. Lew was lovingly cared for in his final year by his family and personal caregiver, Julia Ruff. His greatest joy was being able to continue to attend church on a regular basis. Lew was first married in July 1941 to Marjorie Eleanor Witsil; together they had five children. Eleanor died in 1972. Lew was then married to Orlie Taylor Glick from 1973 until her death in 2002. In 2005, Lew married Esther Good Holder, who died in 2011. In addition to his wives, Lew was predeceased by his daughter, Alice Lamont, son Roger Gemmill, and stepdaughter Marianna Gipe. He is survived by a large, extended family including daughter Marilyn Gerriets of Antigonish, Nova Scotia, and sons L. Thomas Gemmill, Jr., husband of Valerie, of Lancaster, and Wayne Gemmill, husband of Betsy, of Cockeysville, MD. Also surviving are stepchildren Frank Glick, David Glick, Gretchen Matthews, and Pat Lowe; 8 grandchildren; 9 step-grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. Family and friends are respectfully invited to attend Lew’s Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 20, 2013 at Saint James Episcopal Church, 119 North Duke Street, Lancaster, with the Reverend Barbara Seras officiating. The family will receive friends in the Chapel at Saint James before the service starting at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes memorials to be directed to Saint James Church, 119 N. Duke St., Lancaster, PA 17602. Interment will be in the Saint James Church Memorial Garden.

Lewis T. Gemmill,

July 16, 2013