John Charles “Rambo” Lewis, 74, of Yakima, Washington, passed away on March 17th, 2021 at home in hospice care surrounded by his loving family after suffering a stroke. He enlisted in the United States Army in January of 1966, completing boot camp and training courses in aviation maintenance. He went on to serve his country in Vietnam, awarded the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service from March 27th – December 7th, 1967 and the Air Medal for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight from December 29th, 1966 – March 9th, 1967. After John returned from Vietnam, back to the Yakima Valley, he pursued employment with a local company drilling wells. In January of 1978, he started his career in law enforcement, joining the Yakima County Sheriff Office as a deputy/jailer, which prepared him for full time police work in July 1979. Over the next twenty-one years, John gained an abundance of knowledge and skills, holding various assignments as a K9 Handler and Civil Deputy. In 1985, he was Officer of the Year for the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office, receiving recognition from the American Legion and the United States Attorney General Edwin Meese III. He acted as the agency’s official historian since 1992, retiring from the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office on June 24, 1999. John married Cheryl (Walker) Lewis in July of 1975. He leaves behind his daughter Heather Marie, 44, and son Charles Lee, 41. He remarried in 1995 to his high school sweetheart, Kathleen (Whittington).He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Kathleen (Whittington).He was preceded in death police dog Captain Alk.
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