Gwendolyn Smith Clapp Lewis passed away on April 22, 2021 in her home in the
care of family and friends; including her beloved husband Richard Evans Lewis
and best friend Heather Giancarlo. Gwen was born on May 12th, 1935 to Hazel
and Louis Smith in Narrowsburg, New York.
Voted “Most Likely to Succeed” in High School, she followed through in every
detail throughout her life. After obtaining a degree in Accounting at the University
of Rochester, she moved to New York City to become the only female
accountant in a large firm. In New York, she met her husband Charles Clapp,
then moved to Houston, obtained an MBA degree from the University of Houston
and worked for many years as a CPA. She was a long-time member of the
National Junior League and The Harris County Heritage Society.
Following Charles’ death, she met and married Richard in 1993. Gwen liked to
tease that she had children the easy way: by marrying into a family of six
children. All of Richard’s children appreciated Gwen’s sage advice, friendship,
love – and especially the loving companionship she shared with their father over
the last twenty-eight years.
For nearly twenty years, Gwen spent summers volunteering at the Rocky
Mountain National Park in Grand Lake, Colorado. She was a proud Master
Gardener and enjoyed surrounding her home with colorful plants and flowers,
often with custom arrangements she created herself. Gwen was an excellent
cook and loved entertaining friends and family. Her favorite books were
cookbooks which were earmarked throughout and filled with personal notations.
Gwen’s meals were always enjoyed over beautiful table settings with lively
conversation and wonderful food.
She is survived by her husband Richard Lewis; sisters Eileen Smith Leto of
Southern Pines NC and Patricia Smith Hanrehan of Washington DC, her six
children through Richard; Amy Lewis Branch of Golden CO, Elizabeth Lewis
Pratson of Chapel Hill, NC, Stephen Lewis and Evan Lewis of Kingwood, TX, and
Richard Lewis II and Wendy Lewis Carnegie of Austin, TX, as well as their
spouses, fifteen grandchildren, two great grandchildren, nieces and nephew. She
is preceded in death by her parents, previous husband Charles Clapp and her
brother Louis Smith II.
A memorial will be held at a later date at Memorial Drive United Methodist
Church.