Richard Robert Lewinski finished his life of service on Oct. 21. His greatest pleasure in life was proclaiming God’s word on Earth. On Nov. 8, 2008, he was ordained as a Deacon for the Roman Catholic Church in the Diocese of Corpus Christi and was assigned and served in his home parish of St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles Catholic Church in Annaville.
Lewinski was born to Clarence C. and Mary Jane Lewinski on April 22, 1947 in Toledo, Ohio. He was the second-born of four brothers. He served with the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam. He traveled to Texas in 1969 to meet his pen pal, Maria Dahlia Garcia, whom he married in 1970.
In 1971,
Lewinski joined the Corpus Christi Police Department and served for 33 years before retiring with the rank of captain. He was also a member of Corpus Christi Police Officers Association and Retired Police Association.
As a deacon he recognized Jesus Christ in the people he encountered on a daily basis. He frequently said that people should not fear death, but fear offending God. “The troubled should turn to God, not to drink,” he would say. He tried to live his life this way.
He valued family life deeply. He was a loving husband and father. Mourning his loss are his wife of 44 years, Dahlia Lewinski; seven children, Gabriel J., Patrick T. (Kelly), Clarence E. (Krystal), Christi N. (William Russell), Benjamin P., Matthew H. (Teri), and Andrew X. Lewinski; 14 grandchildren, Nathan Vera, Nicholas Savage, Lauren Vera, Allison Vera, Tiffany Pena, Alex Dove, Magdalene, Logan, Lucia, Lilliana, Lyla, Andrew (A.J.), Baby Lewinski, Augustus and Daphne Russell and great grandchild, Audrey Nance.
Also in mourning are brothers, Clarence (Diane), Rudy (Anna), Harry (Connie) Lewinski; fourteen nieces and nephews and various great nieces and nephews.
Viewing will be at Sawyer-George Funeral Home on 12497 Leopard Street on Wednesday, Oct. 29, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
A Rosary will be recited at St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles Catholic Church at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 29. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles Catholic Church on Thursday, Oct. 30,at 10:30 a.m. Interment with full military honors we be at the Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery. Pallbearers will be his sons and son-in-law.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Peter Vocation Fund or the Cancer Society. Masses will also be deeply appreciated by the family.