Richard Thomas Lewis

Richard (“Dick”) Lewis, 92, of Paradise Valley, Arizona, died peacefully on February 12, 2025. Born on August 10, 1932 to James and Genieve Lewis in Detroit, MI, he was the youngest of three sons and graduated from Redford High School in Detroit.

Dick earned his bachelor’s degree in business from Michigan State University while completing the Air Force ROTC program and serving as president of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. In addition to making life-long friends at Michigan State, he met the love of his life, his confidant and sounding board, Nelaura (“Rusty”) Orr. Dick and Rusty married after graduation in 1956.

Shortly thereafter, his military service took them to Japan, where Dick served as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force. After completing his service, he spent two years working for Owens-Illinois Glass Inc., first in Toledo, OH and then in Albany, NY.

Dick and Rusty then moved to Riverside, CT in 1962, where they raised three daughters and he developed the Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise for the greater New York City area. After a decade, Dick sold his KFC franchise to KFC Corporation. He was appointed Chief Operating Officer of KFC, leading him to relocate to Louisville, KY with his family.

Returning to Riverside in 1974, Dick established one of the first McDonald’s restaurants in Manhattan. Among his many locations that he owned, he opened the busiest McDonald’s restaurant in the United States, located in the middle of Times Square in 1984. Dick was heavily involved in the McDonald’s National Owner Operator Association, holding a number of leadership positions as well as with the Ronald McDonald House charity.

Dick genuinely enjoyed being in the company of others and learning about them, earning regard as the ultimate “People Person.” He had a great sense of humor and was energized by engaging conversations, sharing his quick wit and sound advice with many. Loving a good party, he relished entertaining friends and sharing adventures with them. Most of all, he loved spending time with his family, connecting with his wife, daughters and nine grandchildren who made his life feel complete. With them, he typically referred to himself as a “happy camper.”

Dick had a true passion for flying. After the Air Force, he continued to own and fly planes throughout his lifetime. He proudly volunteered his services for the Angel Flight Network, providing air transportation for medical services. He was on the Board of ORBIS International, a flying eye hospital, whose mission is to end avoidable blindness in the most needed communities.

Dick enjoyed traveling, seeing much of the world with family and friends. Over the years, the family spent many winters in Stratton, VT and Paradise Valley, AZ, where he was a member of the Paradise Valley Country Club. He enjoyed summers with his family at Crystal Lake in Frankfort, MI, a tradition going back many generations in Rusty’s family. He was devoted to the Frankfort community and the preservation of the lake through involvement with the Crystal Lake Watershed Association.

Dick was an avid tennis player, winning many local championships and also tournaments at Riverside Yacht Club. He also enjoyed playing golf especially at Crystal Downs Country Club in Frankfort, MI where he served as President.

Dick was preceded in death by his wife of fifty-one years, Rusty Lewis, his two brothers, Jim Lewis and David Lewis and his daughter Vicki Nolan (Tim) of Darien, CT. He is survived by his wife, Linda Perry Lewis, daughter Kathryn Heidt (Doug) of Greenwich, CT and daughter Wendy Fuller (Randy) of Wellesley, MA. In addition, he was a proud grandfather to nine grandchildren: Tim, Bobby (Paige) and Katie Nolan; Billy (Annabel), Tommy and Jimmy Heidt; and Allie, Kelly and Rob Fuller.

He will be deeply missed. A memorial service and celebration of life will be held this summer at Crystal Lake in Frankfort, Michigan.