Charles Franklin Lewis, "Chuck", 85, passed away on March 26, 2021. After high school graduation, Charles went to the Socorro School of Mines in New Mexico to study geology. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry at Adams State College in Alamosa, Colorado. Charles began his career working with the Bureau of Mines in Salt Lake City, Utah and moved to Scottsdale, Arizona in 1963 where he worked as a Research Chemist at ASU for 30 years, as well as being the curator of the Nininger Meteorite Collection, the largest in the world. He retired as Research Specialist Emeritus in the Center for Meterorite Studies. He also worked for NASA during the Apollo moon missions, where he studied and analyzed the lunar samples. His passion for minerals, fossils and meteorites was the highlight of his life and he was greatly respected among his peers around the world.



Charles is survived by his wife Janice Carroll Lewis, five children, nine grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to: Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History PO Box 418320 Boston, MA 02241-8320 Add "Gift for the Dept of Mineral Sciences in honor of Charles F. Lewis" on check memo and/or include a letter with this information. The Lewis family will be made aware of any donations made. A celebration of life will take place at the Masonic Lodge in the Masonic Park in Southfork, Colorado on the 6th of July 2021. (Source: ASU Foundation)