Elena Lewis

Elena Lewis, 93 of Reynoldsburg, and formerly of Bucyrus, passed peacefully Tuesday, February 1, 2022 at The Inn at Summit Trail while holding hands and being comforted by her daughter and granddaughter.



Elena (Horsley) Rhoden Lewis was born in Garrison, Ky on December 18, 1928. She was the first of ten children born to Rannel and Mamie (Cooper) Horsley. Helping tend to her many siblings kept her busy; but she dearly loved children, never complained, and was always there to help where needed.



In December 1945, Elena married Chester Rhoden. In the years to follow they proudly welcomed two children into their family, a daughter, Patricia and a son, Michael. Chester and Michael preceded her in death.



One fateful day in 1951, while working as a waitress at Freddie’s Drive-In, she met Charles Lewis. That led to conversations about the importance of families and life in a loving home. Within a few months, on October 6, 1951, they married and set about to achieve those common goals. They were a good team and lived happily until his death on January 14, 1998. Even though her life focus was on being a wife and mother, she found time to volunteer as a “Gray Lady” with The American Red Cross and enjoyed a long career with Baumoels as children’s clothing buyer and sales.



After Charles death, she moved to Reynoldsburg, Ohio to be closer to her daughter and grandchildren.



In addition to her son and husbands, Elena was preceded in death by her parents, sisters, Mary Horsley Pruitt, Carolyn Horsley Skaggs and brothers, Harry, Alfred, Hobart, and Leslie.



She is survived by daughter, Patricia (Michael) Stansbery; grandchildren, Stacey (Thomas) Sampson, Stephen (Kimberlee) Stansbery, Michael Jay (April) Rhoden and Ivy (Richard) Siley; great-grandchildren, Lauren Sampson, Sophia and Spencer Stansbery, Alex and Drew Rhoden, Abbey, Maggie, and Wyatt Siley; brothers, Rannel, Carl and Gary as well as many nieces and nephews.



Funeral services for Elena will be held at 1:00 pm Monday, February 7 at Wise Funeral Service, 129 W. Warren St. Bucyrus, Ohio 44820 and her family will receive friends one hour prior. Burial will follow in Nevada Cemetery.



Her family specifically requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made payable to Mount Carmel Hospice as they treated Elena with dignity, love and compassion while caring for her. These gifts can be given through the funeral home or mailed directly to hospice at 6150 E. Broad St., Columbus, Ohio 43213. Online expressions of sympathy can be shared with her family by visiting her tribute wall.