David Brian Lewis, 71 of Ashland, Ohio passed away the afternoon of Saturday May 30, 2026 at UH Samaritan Medical Center. Defying the odds for 20 years after surviving kidney cancer, he lost a courageous year-long battle with mesothelioma.
Born September 21, 1954, the son of the late Joseph L. and Pauline A. (nee Zuercher) Lewis, Dave spent most of his life in Ashland, where he was an active and beloved member of the community.
Dave graduated from Ashland High School, Class of 1972. He completed undergrad at Capital University and earned a Juris Doctorate in 1981 from Duke University. While in North Carolina Dave met and married the love of his life, the former Mary A. McLeod, on May 16, 1981. He retired after more than 42 years as the owner and sole operator of Top Line Marketing.
For over 40 years Dave was a devoted member of Trinity Lutheran Church. For more than 20 of those, he proudly served a small rural community as lay pastor at Pleasant Valley Lutheran Church. Visitors frequently complimented the eloquence of his sermons.
Dave was a man of great intelligence, warmth, curiosity, and conviction. He was a fiercely competitive athlete all of his life between swimming, basketball, tennis, and more; he enjoyed scuba diving, ping pong, hunting, and being outdoors. He earned a black belt in karate, and was a voracious reader.
Dave developed a reputation for incredible grit, perseverance and passion, tempered by humor and kindness. He was beloved by many friends, and was a friend to all. He loved animals, incapable of abandoning an animal in need. Having logged over one million miles behind the wheel during his career, he proudly refused to use GPS when driving.
He is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Mrs. Mary Lewis of Ashland; two children, Matthew (Marlee) Lewis of Smithfield, KY and Mollie (David) McConahay of Charleston, SC; one granddaughter, Luna Lewis; one expected granddaughter, Caroline McConahay in June of 2026; and one brother, Joseph Lewis of Alliance, OH. One dog and three rescued cats also mourn his passing. Dave is preceded in death by his parents.
A service celebrating Dave’s life will be held later this summer at Trinity Lutheran Church with Reverend Kevin McClain presiding. Internment will be in the Ashland Cemetery, in the town that he loved.
Online condolences may be shared on the funeral home’s website at denbowfh.com, and memorial donations in his name can be made at the Ashland County Dog Shelter, 1740 Baney Road, Ashland, Ohio 44805 or the Cat House Feline Sanctuary at catsanctuaryashland.org, 1130 E. Main Street #136, Ashland, OH 44805.
Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home & Crematory is handling the arrangements.
Funeral Home: Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home
Website: denbowfh.com