Warren Davis Lewis IV

Warren Davis Lewis IV was born on June 25, 1946, in Montgomery, Alabama, to his loving parents, Captain Warren D. Lewis III and Emma Marguerite Dixon Lewis. Though he spent the last 52 years of his life as a proud Texan, a piece of his heart always remained in his beloved Alabama.

He went by many names to those who loved him—Dee, Dee Dee, Warren D, Deedlebum, Bama, Daddy’o, Papa Warren and “The Dog Father.”

Warren was fiercely patriotic and had a lifelong love of model planes and sports. As a young man, he famously sent Coach Bear Bryant spliced 8mm film of his best football plays, hoping for a call from the Crimson Tide. That call never came, and he never made his way back to Alabama—but it remained one of his favorite stories to tell. He was a letterman athlete, competing in football, wrestling, baseball and track.

During high school, Warren moved with his family to Wheaton, Illinois, where he became a standout athlete at Wheaton High School. He went on to attend Western Illinois University, where he continued his athletic pursuits and was active in Sigma Tau Delta fraternity while earning his Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. Upon graduation, he moved to Chicago, where he began his career and enjoyed big-city life.

Warren built a successful career as a salesman in the office supply industry. As he liked to say, he sold “pencils, paper clips, and erasers” to some of the largest companies in the country—and insisted that no one could really do business without him. He remained an old-fashioned, face-to-face salesman, adapting only as much as necessary to changing times. He mentored many younger colleagues, always emphasizing the importance of shined shoes and a good smile. Along the way, he formed lasting friendships with coworkers who appreciated—and lovingly endured—his humor and storytelling.

He was always up to something—usually a joke or a well-timed prank. Whether riding his bike through the neighborhood, on the field, or among his fraternity brothers, his humor and spirit brought people together and left them laughing, forming lifelong friendships rooted in laughter and love.

Warren’s first move to Texas brought him to Houston. He liked to say he chose Houston over Atlanta because it was on the Gulf—he wanted to live by the water. He loved the water in every form, whether sailing above it or diving below. Nicknamed “Whale Tail” by his father, Warren embraced that identity fully. His first scuba dive—a night dive off the Cayman Islands—set the tone for a lifelong love of adventure and beautiful (and sometimes mischievous) moments. At one point, he dreamed of selling everything and sailing the world—but life had other plans.

A confirmed bachelor and tennis aficionado, Warren met a young schoolteacher, Adena, the old-fashioned way—in a bar. What may not have been love at first sight became a lifelong partnership. Just months shy of their 50th wedding anniversary, he deeply loved his wife, whom he affectionately called “Harpo.” She came into his life at just the right time, and he never regretted their meeting or the many dreams they shared. Adena was his most faithful companion, in sickness and in health. Together, they built a life and family, first in Houston, then Arlington, and finally settling in the small-town pace of Smithville, Texas.

Warren loved many dogs over the years, but nothing surpassed his love for the family he built with Adena. They welcomed two children: Virginia Marguerite Lewis and, 14 months later, Warren Davis Lewis V.

In the early 1980s, the family moved to Arlington, where Warren’s life was filled with the music and energy of a busy household. He coached many of his children’s teams, led their troops, organized kazoo and spoon bands and was always their biggest fan. He was an amazing cuddler and larger than life to Ginny and WD. The family spent many weekends swimming and sailing on Eagle Mountain Lake, with Warren as Captain and cheering him on in road bike races. They also took many camping trips throughout Colorado and Texas. These years were marked by laughter, strong friendships, countless memories and lively debates. When both children chose Texas Tech University, Warren fully embraced Red Raider life—often attempting to relive his college days at tailgates and even the occasional fraternity or sorority event.

In retirement, Smithville, Texas, and his beloved Whispering Pines became home. He traveled extensively, often in an RV alongside his mother-in-law, Virginia Guyton. He took that RV—along with his dogs and his Honda Goldwing—to baseball and beaches, to visit loved ones, to Alabama and national and state parks all around the country. As he slowed down, Warren stepped into one of his most cherished roles: grandfather. He adored his grandsons, Carter Davis Lewis and Jack Michael Lewis, and found great joy in their lives, full of sports, curiosity and adventure.

Warren battled more than a decade of illness and never lost his spark. He faced it the same way he faced everything else—with perseverance, a positive attitude, strong faith and humor to keep everyone else smiling, too—always with real gusto.

Warren is survived by his wife, Adena Guyton Lewis; his daughter, Ginny “Winky” Lewis Ford (Justin); his son, WD Lewis (and grandsons Carter Davis and Jack Michael); his sisters, Lynne “Lynne Lucy” Mammen and Marguerite “Baa Boo” Hill (Chris), along with their families; and his brother-in-law, Bill Guyton (Kevin), and their family.

A private graveside service will be held, followed by a service and celebration at First Christian Church in Smithville, Texas, on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., followed by a celebration of what would have been his 80th birthday.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial gifts be made to the Bastrop County Animal Shelter. Warren’s beloved final four-legged companion, Frisky Pearl, came from that shelter during the pandemic—and the two were truly best buddies.

Warren left a message for all of us in his phone notes, leaving us with his signature humor:

“Up and at ’em, rise and shine—hit the deck! Put some boogie in your woogie, some giggle in your wiggle, some glide in your stride—hubba hubba…it’s showtime! I love you all. Think of me now and then. But for now, that’s all she wrote. Happy trails to you, until we meet again.”

Your loving husband, father, relative and friend, Warren Davis Lewis IV