LEWIS, Anita

Wickenburg Funeral Home & Crematory, Wickenburg, Arizona Anita Lewis March 23, 1940 - April 9, 2014 Anita Benson Lewis, age 74, passed away April 9, 2014 in Surprise, Arizona. She was born March 23, 1940 in Boston, Massachussets to Oscar & Anna Benson. Anita began working in the petroleum industry as an office manager. She was very capable in her ablities to manage and enjoyed her work. Anita was a member of the 99 Women's Flying Group and Desk & Derrick Club as well as the Soroptimist Club. She enjoyed flying and the outdoors. Anita is survived by her husband J.D. of Wickenburg, Daughter Debra Kay Lewis and grandchildren: Crystal Davis and Jared Lewis, sisters Linned Whelan and Elain Benson and brothers Albert Benson and Victor Benson. ~~~~~~~~~~~ The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, Arizona Wednesday, April 23, 2014 Anita Lewis passed away Wednesday, April 9 after losing a four-year battle with Alzheimer’s. She was 74 years of age. Anita was born March 23, 1940 in Boston, Mass., to Oscar and Anna May Benson. She is survived by her husband Jerry D. Lewis of Wickenburg; step-daughter Debra Lewis of Wickenburg; grandchildren Crystal K. Davis of Gold Canyon, Ariz., and Jerid A. Lewis of Gilbert, Ariz.; sisters Linnea Whelan of Squantum, Mass., and Elaine Benson of Berwick, Mass.; and brothers Albert Benson and Viktor Benson -- both of Walpole, Mass. Anita graduated from an all-girls school in Boston and was hired by Boston General Hospital, where she was employed for several years. In 1961, she took a trip to Bremerton, Wash., and fell in love with the Northwest -- never returning to Boston to live. In 1966, the aura of Alaska found her, and she loaded up her trusty Mustang with her dog and personal belongings and drove the Alcan Highway to Anchorage, Alaska. She landed a job right away with a large construction company and in a very short time an oil well drilling company hired her away to be in charge of their office. Anita was a very active person -- a licensed pilot, a whiz at computers, proofreader, typist (typing 100 words per minute without mistake), made quilts and needlepoint, and grew orchids and roses. She was a member of 99, the women’s flying group started by Amelia Earhart in the 1930s. In short order, she was elected to president of the Alaska group of 99s. She led a group of lady pilots in seven airplanes from Anchorage to Prudhoe Bay, visiting the oil fields and returning with all seven airplanes. Anita was a member of the Desk and Derrick Club, the Soroptimist Club, and of course the Alaska 99s. In 1980, she was offered a job in California as office manager with Lewis Oil Distributing and accepted. Anita loaded up her airplane with a tent, sleeping bags, stove and other camping items along with a good lady friend of hers and flew from Anchorage to Seattle to Boston. On the return trip to California, her brothers drew straws to determine which one would fly with her ... her brother Albert won the trip. In 1981, Anita married the owner of Lewis Oil Distributing, Jerry D. Lewis. In 1988, the Lewises sold their business, retired and moved to Eagle Roost Air Park in Aguila. In 2002, they sold the place in Aguila and moved to Wickenburg. Anita was a beautiful, very caring person, and she will be missed. A memorial for Anita will be held at a later date. Friends may offer online condolences at www.wickenburgfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Wickenburg Funeral Home and Crematory.