Timothy "Tim" Claude Lewis

Timothy Claude Lewis, age 76, of Wichita, Kansas, went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on July 10, 2026, surrounded by his loving family.

Tim was born on November 1, 1949, in Florence, Alabama, to Claude and Madge Lewis. The son of a Church of Christ preacher, Tim spent portions of his growing up years across Tennessee, Idaho, and Arkansas. He graduated from Benton High School and earned a degree in Physical Education from Harding University, where he met and married his faithful wife of 55 years, Ann Starling.

The Lord called Tim into ministry through Ann’s father, Ralph Starling. Ralph asked Tim to come and spend the summer working with the teenagers from their church. That summer sparked Tim’s lifelong passion for working with youth, leading him to become one of the true pioneers in the field of Youth Ministry within the Churches of Christ. At a time when specialized ministry for young people was just beginning to take shape, Tim helped pave the way, shaping the framework for how congregations care for, spiritualize, and support teenagers.

Throughout his decades-long career, he served numerous congregations across the country—sharing his gifts and pouring his life into young people in Birmingham, Alabama; Plainview, Texas; and Irving, Texas. It was in Irving, at the South MacArthur Church of Christ, that Tim truly left his mark. He spent 37 years ministering to that congregation, serving 17 years as the youth minister before transitioning into Involvement Ministry with an intentional focus on global missions. He left an indelible mark on hundreds of young lives both at home and abroad. To many, he was a spiritual father, a trusted counselor, and a constant reminder of the joy we have in Christ.

Following his professional ministry, Tim and Ann moved to Wichita, Kansas, to be closer to family. Here, Tim’s greatest joy was his grandkids. He cherished every moment spent with them, constantly cheering them on and watching them excel in all of their activities. Even in retirement, Tim’s heart for serving young people never wavered; he continued his ministry in Wichita by volunteering and serving on the board of Carpenter Place, a local children’s home for teenage girls. His legacy of laughter, service, and profound faith will continue to ripple through the generations he impacted.

Timothy was preceded in death by his parents, Claude Jr. and Madge Lewis; his brother, Jon Lewis; and his brother-in-law, Dean Wright.

He is survived by his wife, Ann Lewis; his children, Julie (Matt) Tibbles and Micah (Amy) Lewis; his grandchildren, Nathan Lewis, Reese Tibbles, Alli Lewis, Kellyn Tibbles, Kate Lewis, and Maddie Lewis; his sisters, Maurine (Buddy) Jones, Laura Wright, and Cheri (Scott) Smith; his brother, Joel (Emma) Lewis; and a vast community of former youth group members, missionary partners, colleagues, and brothers and sisters in Christ who will deeply miss his wisdom, humor, and joyful spirit.

A celebration of Tim’s life and legacy will be held on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at 2:00 PM at the RiverWalk Church of Christ in Wichita, KS.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made in Tim’s honor to two ministries close to his heart:

• Carpenter Place (Wichita, KS) – carpenterplace.org (1501 N. Meridian Avenue, Wichita, Kansas 67203)
• REMADE/Made in the Streets (Kenya) – remadekenya.org (409 Franklin Road, Brentwood, Tennessee 37027

Services in care of Downing & Lahey West Mortuary.