Paul I. Lew

Dr. Paul Ilsun Lew, 91, of Carmel, Indiana died peacefully on January 22, 2026 surrounded by his family. Paul was born in Seoul, Korea on April 8, 1934 to Bishop Hyungki Julius Lew and Hyungsook Julia Lew. In 1950, following the invasion by communist North Korea into South Korea, his family was forced to flee their home, ultimately moving to the port city of Pusan where Paul’s father arranged for his wife and three children to leave Korea to the safety of the United States. In January 1951, after a long fourteen day journey aboard an empty freighter, Paul and his family arrived in San Francisco Bay and soon settled in Los Angeles, California. Paul enrolled into local schools without the ability to speak English, but he worked diligently to master the language, to find part-time employment as a teenager and to purposefully assimilate into his new country - skills which would serve him well throughout his life.

After graduating high school in 1954, Paul completed the prerequisite college courses to apply to dental school. He was admitted to Indiana University School of Dentistry where he graduated as Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1961. Paul became a full-time instructor at the dental school, and in 1974 he opened his private practice on the northeast side of Indianapolis while continuing to teach part-time. After teaching for more than 25 years, Paul retired as an Assistant Professor to focus on his practice full time. In 2012, Paul retired after a long and successful dental career and will always be remembered for his dedication to his patients and his uncompromising commitment to clinical excellence.

In 1961, Paul married Wanda Jean Stevens, a native of Marion, Indiana, and they settled in Carmel, Indiana to raise their two children, emphasizing the values of hard work, education and achievement. A life-long loyal Hoosier, Paul loved attending Indiana University basketball and football games with friends and family. But perhaps one of his most cherished things to do was spending time with family and friends who always affectionately called him “Doc”. Whether taking a long walk on the beach with his granddaughters, celebrating holidays with family in Carmel or grilling “Doc’s Korean Ribs” on a beautiful summer Indiana evening, Paul was happiest just being Doc.

Paul was predeceased by his parents and his sisters, Jean Lew Kim (Raymond), Taihee Shin Lee (Bokyul). He is survived by his beloved wife of 64 years, Wanda Jean Lew, Carmel, Indiana; his son, Paul Eric Lew, Henderson, Nevada; his daughter, Lisa Lew Aston and her husband, Joseph Lang Aston, whom he loved as a son, Nashville, Tennessee; granddaughters Caroline Aston Wilson (Royce), Los Angeles, California and Harriet Lang “Hallie” Aston, San Francisco, California; two great granddaughters, Avery Lang Wilson and Raleigh Elizabeth Wilson, and a great grandson, Royce Edrice “Tripp” Wilson III.

The family would like to express heartfelt gratitude to Mohamed Merzoug and the caregivers from Compassus Hospice for their loving and compassionate care for Paul.

The family will be holding a private memorial service to celebrate his life and recommends any donations be made to the National Kidney Foundation or Compassus Living Foundation.

Rest in peace Doc. We love you and will miss you always.