Rachel A. Ewell

Rachel started life as the poorest of poor - a farm girl in a little town in South Carolina. At the age of 15 ½, during World War II, she, and a few of her friends, obtained fake ID’s and ran away from home to join the US Navy-a decision that would eventually take her to far off lands and a lifetime of adventure. Her first great adventure, at the age of 16, would lead her to a chance meeting with a cocky, brand new First Lieutenant who would become her husband.

Rachel lived her life exactly the way she wanted. Opinionated, stubborn, ambitious, and driven by some force of nature to never “miss out on anything”, she played with, and succeeded in, many different arenas of life. Whatever she decided to do-she did-regardless of what anyone else said. If she wanted it, or wanted to do it-she did it or got it. Nothing could stop her. Whatever she did, she did with flair, with character, and with great joy.

Rachel and her husband of 65plus years, Bill, were the parents of 3 daughters who were brought up traveling the world. Knowing that their lives were exceptional, this small band of individuals, bound together by love, saw the world together and reveled in the sights and experiences that could only be found living the life of nomads and gypsies. Being a military family-Air Force brats to be exact-afforded Rachel and her family the opportunity to live in and visit, for extended periods of time, places like England, Scotland, Germany, France, Italy and many other exotic and far away lands. Trips to Israel, Egypt, Greenland and so many of these United States forged a life that few others ever dream of yet alone live. And, in every one of these places, Rachel did her own thing and made a mark on everyone around her.

She was one of very few American women to be counted as a friend and invited by Queen Elizabeth II to join the Queen’s Garden Club at Buckingham Palace where she was given the opportunity to learn and obtain her certificate as a Master Gardener-a skill she brought with her to every home she ever shared with her family. Because of her friendship with Queen Elizabeth, she arranged for Prince Philip to fly, in his private plane, to the Air Force base where she and her husband were stationed. Not thinking it necessary to inform the Commanding Officer of Prince Philip’s impending visit created a major alert on the base as an “unidentified plane” circled and attempted to land on a secured landing strip on a United States Air Base. Finally identifying the incoming aircraft and learning of the “invitation” given by Rachel to the Queen and Prince Philip, resulted in a “meeting” between the Commanding General of the base and Rachel’s husband, a Major at the time, where one single word was spoken- “Explain”. The explanation was short and sweet-“Sir, you need to take this up with my wife”.

While in France, Rachel attended a production of the Follies Bergere, and not knowing exactly what the Follies Bergere was, she caused a complete uproar when, in the middle of the performance she stood and shouted “Bill-they’re all nude!” Needless to say, their attendance was cut short when they were asked to leave the theatre! And, while in Paris, being wined and dined by French Authorities because of her philanthropic activities, she, in gown and stiletto heels, her neck and arms adorned by diamonds and pearls, in the company of these same officials, bent down and picked up a homeless, dying woman lying in the gutter of some nameless street in the City of Lights- and took her to the hospital for help.

Scotland proved to be another great adventure for the entire family as a blanket was spread on the shores of Loch Ness and the vigil was set for us being the humans who, once and for all, discovered and photographed the Loch Ness monster. Sitting there for hours, searching the waters of the Loch became an experience so full of excitement and wonder. Laughter and tall tales, disgusting sandwiches spread with some kind of Scottish butter concoction that she swore her family would never have to eat again and being beneath the ancient castle of the family ancestral lineage became the stuff that dreams were made of.

Rachel counted among her friends both foreign Royalty and normal everyday, hard working people. She loved hard and lived passionately in whatever realm she happened to find herself in. Her next-door neighbors were the Lords and Ladies of the empire- whether that empire was an entire country or a small patch of grass-she treated everyone the same. And they loved her.

Rachel was a study in the dichotomy of a life in search of meaning. To her family, she was both best friend and worst nightmare. She dove, headfirst, into the worst tragedies of her family’s life to pull them out safely, and she ran directly into the line of fire to take the bullet herself instead of letting it strike its intended target. At the same time, she knew exactly what “button” to push to drive her family insane- a skill she was exceptionally good at! But, then, isn’t that exactly what the mother/wife role is all about? Because of her, her family members became exactly who and what they needed to be and were destined to become.

Rachel’s life was a life full of excitement and made of the stuff of dreams. Her many roles in life were dizzying. She served as an Navy Wave, a real estate tycoon, a model and eventual CEO of a modeling agency “The Academie Rachelle “, a restaurateur, a college student, a master gardener, and, having attended the Cordon Blu in France-a master Chef. In her later years, she found a life with God and, as an Ordained Minister, became Pastor Rachel to hundreds and hundreds of people in Churches throughout the world. One of her greatest, and most satisfying roles was, while overseas, she single handedly created the largest Air Force Officers Outreach Helping program ever in existence in Europe- an organization that still exists today some 50 years later.

Rachel is survived by 3 daughters who must now find their way in this world without her ever present constancy and support. Rachel is also survived by 3 cherished sons-in-law, 8 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, 4 great great grandchildren, a brother and sister-in-law, and many many friends who loved and cherished her.

And, as usual, her passing, as in her life, was accomplished in the manner she wished it to be-on her terms and in her time. She left this world on June 19 in the middle of a severe wind and rainstorm, fighting with all her strength to say goodbye to the most important people in her life-her 3 daughters. Her last words were only three- “Sherry, Sharon, Cheryl”—her beloved babies.