September 20, 2013

Funeral for Lewis C. Maples, 82, of Decatur was Mon., Sept. 23, at 2 p.m. at Shoal Creek Baptist Church with the Revs. Chuck Bass, Brian Bridges and Harold Maples officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing.

Burial was in Shoal Creek Cemetery.

Mr. Maples died Fri., Sept. 20, 2013, at his residence. He was born Jan. 26, 1931, in Etowah County to Buford Carrell Maples and Clara Lee Spears Maples. At the age of six, Lewis obtained a social security card and worked at a local grocery store in Decatur, delivering groceries in a little red wagon. At nine, he started working for Charley Charles in East Decatur, again delivering groceries on his bike and working in the store. At approximately 15 years old, he began working at Stone Lumber Company after school and after graduating from Riverside High School in 1949, he continued working at Stone Lumber Company full time in the paint and interior design department. He married Eldora Roberts on Nov. 17, 1950. He left Stone Lumber in 1969 to manage the Glidden Paint Store on Sixth Avenue in Decatur where he worked for 20 years. Afterwards, he owned and managed Maples Decorating Center in Hartselle and Floors-R-Us in Decatur. In 2000, he retired from the paint business but continued to sell flooring from his shop at home. In 1964, Lewis and his wife, Eldora, and their teenage twins, Harold and Carol, moved from Decatur to their current home in Priceville.

He was a member of Shoal Creek Baptist Church for more than 40 years and served as a deacon for a number of years. He was also a lifetime president of the greater Decatur Bowling Association.

He is survived by his wife, Eldora Roberts Maples; a son, Harold Ray Maples and wife Brenda; a daughter, Carol Maples Hardin; a brother, Billy Don Maples and wife Mearleen; two sisters, Evelyn Maples Motes and husband Fred and Linda Jo Maples Bomar and husband Cecil; five grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren

Pallbearers were deacons of the church.

Honorary pallbearers were his nephews.