Lewis Price Obituary

Lewis Edward Price, a cherished member of the community, passed away on January 22, 2026, in Temecula, California, at the age of 93. Born on July 8, 1932, in Luray, Virginia, Lewis's life was marked by his dedication to his family, his service to his country, and a love of life's simple pleasures.

Lewis's early years in Luray were filled with the balance of simple, yet hard demands of country life. As a young boy, he had many chores on the small farm he was raised on. He adored his mother Regora. He was next to last in the line of his 5 siblings - his oldest brother, three middle sisters, Lewis, & his baby sister. When not at school or working his chores, Lewis spent many hours of his young life along with his siblings and cousins exploring the Blue Ridge mountains surrounding his birthplace.

He frequently told his children that he knew those mountains like the back of his hand.

After graduating from Luray High School, he joined the Army at the age of 17, serving his country with honor and pride for four years, to the close of the Korean War. His service was a formative experience that instilled in him a sense of discipline and camaraderie that certainly lasted through his lifetime.

After returning to civilian life, Lewis moved to Maryland, met and married his first wife, Shirley Lourilla, and they began a family together. His career working at Kaiser Aluminum in Baltimore, Maryland lasted over 20 years until he accepted a transfer to the Midwest - relocating his family and later embarked on a new opportunity as a pipe-fitter for Grinnell Pipefitting Industries which then took him and the family to the city of Anchorage, Alaska. He spent the next 30 years of his life. Lewis and Shirley divorced during the early years in Alaska. Later in life, he met and married Josephina Lydia (Lillian) Price and they were together until Lillian passed away in June of 2022. Lewis not only mastered his craft but also built lifelong friendships and he especially enjoyed touring beautiful Alaska with visiting friends and especially his now grown family. In 2002, Lewis retired and moved to Murrieta, California, with his beloved wife, Lillian, and they began this new chapter filled with sunshine and shared interests.

They were one of the earliest residents of what had became a fast growing residential area known as "The Colony".

Lewis was an avid fan of baseball & football and never lost his excitement over a game. His early years were filled with league bowling - during which he won severl trophies. Roller skating was another of his regular hobbies. He liked clocks - and tinkering with small repairs and his interests had him always surrounded by friends. As the years went by, Lewis's love for activity never waned and he could be found at the neighborhood swimming pool doing full laps almost daily, until the summer of 2025, when his health slowed him down somewhat. But even then, he tried never to miss Bingo night at the clubhouse or Taco Tuesday lunch with his "buddies".

He was a son, a brother, cousin and an uncle

He was a husband to two lovely people in his life

He was a father - grandfather - great grandfather and great-great grandfather

He was a friend,

He was a collector.

He loved history.

He was a believer in God -

And he LOVED his country!

He was a very special man.

Lewis's personality was as large as his heart. He was known for his outgoing nature, and his ability to light up a room with his presence. People were drawn to him, and he cherished the relationships he built throughout his life.

He leaves behind a loving family, including his daughters Joeberta "Joey" Spangler (Edward "Butch"), Carmel Barby Jacobs (Jimmie Jacobs, deceased) and Crystal Marie Jones (William Jones, deceased); his sister, Dorma Jean Price; his ten grandchildren; nineteen great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren. With a personality as large as his heart, his legacy of love and friendship will be carried on through the stories and memories shared by those who knew him best.

Lewis was preceded in death by his first wife, Shirley, and their son Christian, his second wife, Lillian and her son William. As we remember Lewis Edward Price, we celebrate the life of a man who was truly one of a kind, whose spirit will live on and continue to inspire all who had the pleasure of knowing him.