Jeromes Satchell Obituary
Jerome "Jerry" Satchell, 81, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 11 2022 at White Oak Manor nursing home in North Charleston, South Carolina, USA.
Jerry was born on 29 October 1940 and raised in Rosenhayn, New Jersey, the third eldest of seven children of the late Deacon Andrew Satchell and Mary Bell (Cook). His upbringing was religious, strict and hard-working, with minimal free time and many hours spent picking tomatoes. Jerry hated raw tomatoes, raw onions and liked everything "well done" and with lots of salt. As a teenager, Jerry worked as a cashier and driver at Weinberg's General Stores in Rosenhayn. He graduated from Bridgeton High School in 1959 and, because his father would not let him study extra maths to follow academic studies in agriculture, he joined the US Air Force in September 1959, training first in Texas and then starting as an Aircraft Ground Equipment Repairman in 1960 at RAF Sculthorpe, in Norfolk, England. In 1962 he met Patricia Mary (Thompson) in a Kings Lynn jazz club, they married in 1963 and had three boys (Darrol, Michael and Craig). They were divorced in 1972.
Jerry had a long and decorated US Air Force military career in Aerospace Ground Equipment, seeing active duty in 1966/67 in the Vietnam War, where he served at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base (a forward combat base) in Thailand and was selected as "Outstanding Airman of the Six Months" for his unit in South East Asia. Jerry completed more than seven years of foreign service, most of which were at RAF Lakenheath in England and he had postings at home at George AFB, California and Chanute AFB, Illinois. Jerry did several tours of duty (TDYs) in Norway and Italy in the 1960s and 1970s cold-war period, and enjoyed travelling throughout his rich life, for work and for pleasure. He retired as Master Sergeant at Castle AFB, California on 31 October 1979 with over 20 years of honourable and dedicated service to his country. He was the recipient of multiple awards including an Army Good Conduct Medal, NCO Academy Graduate Ribbon, National Defence Service Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal. He loved the air force - the military life and life style suited and served him well. He was an expert mechanic and used these skills to help others for the rest of his life.
Jerry met his second wife, Rhonda "Roni" Sue (White) whilst at Castle AFB and they married in February 1977. On retirement, they moved back to the east coast, settling in Horseheads, New York, where Jerry worked briefly for Hardinge, Elmira, NY before moving to New York State and Gas (NYSEG), initially as a heavy machine operator, pushing tons of coal into grates to feed the Hinkley Power Plant, but progressing to meter reader and finally, getting what he really wanted, a post as a mechanic in the busy NYSEG workshop, where he excelled and passed his apprenticeship exams with >90% pass grades. In 1984, Jerry and Roni adopted their daughter, Taisha Mae Satchell. Jerry worked many night shifts and looked forward to his vacation time, usually spent with his brother- and sister-in-law Kennett and Carolyn White, and their three children, Brett Miles, Brad Miles and Bekki Stevens. Jerry loved his fishing trips and looked forward to the deer hunting season. He didn't, however, enjoy the harsh winters, the cold climate and being known as a poor shot.
Jerry retired from NYSEG in 1999, and the family moved south to Charleston area in South Carolina. Jerry enjoyed the hot climate and the fishing opportunities that Charleston offered, and the Satchells lived in four homes – all in the Ladson and Summerville areas, with Jerry maintaining his military connections at Charleston Air Force Base as a bagger at the Commissary and occasionally as an usher at the Church.
Jerry invested his time, effort and love in his family. He was devoted to his daughter, Taisha, and kept in touch with his three sons and their families, visiting England frequently and hosting visits and family reunions at his homes. He constructed intricate model railways in his garage, loved to dance and was "full of life, with a real character, a true military man and a gentleman". Jerry loved baseball, football, cars and going to NASCAR races. He spent his later years at The Retreat in Summerville, where he was well liked, helpful to others and a source of occasional panic. When he wasn't walking somewhere or sneaking outside for a cigarette, you could find him dressed early for bed in his pyjamas, sitting in his La-Z-Boy, sipping on a cold Sprite, eating candy and watching the news, sports or Judge Judy, loudly. His well-used phone was always by his side and his paperwork neatly classified and within easy reach. He enjoyed a weekly shopping trip to the Commissary for social interaction with the bagging team ladies and mourned the loss of his driving license and every one of the 40 or more cars that he owned, cleaned and maintained with a passion. He attended church at Charleston AFB on Sundays and kept two bibles, one by his bed, the other in the glove compartment of his car.
Jerry's wife, Rhonda Sue Satchell (White), his two eldest sisters (Delores Smith and Patricia Craddock), his nephew Brett Miles and his mother-in-law, Beverly White pre-deceased him. He is survived by his siblings, Androclus, Olivia (Williams), Elbert and Ernest Satchel, his father-in-law (Wayne White), ex-wife Patricia Mary Satchell (Thompson), sister-in-law and brother-in-law Kenneth and Carolyn White, his sons Darrol Jerome Satchell (Lorna), Michael Edward Satchell (Pascale), Craig Lee Satchell (Emma) and his daughter, Taisha Mae Satchell. "PopPop" as they called him, will be sorely missed by his ten grandchildren: Shannon (Tom), Renée, Rebecca (Soar), Victoria (Soar), Sidonie, Samuel, Courtney, Olivia, Ellena, Grace, and his great granddaughter, Elsie Rose. They cherished his visits, his dance routines, his cackling laughs, his punctual birthday cards (which always contained a gift) and annual Christmas packages with Hallmark tree decorations. As the wise old "Uncle", Jerry leaves many nieces and nephews (in the US and the UK), in-laws and cousins. Our sincere thanks to his best friends, Elston McTeer and Benny Howard for their loyalty, love and support as well as to the many nurses and carers who cared lovingly, respectfully and with kindness for Jerry at The Retreat at Summerville, Trident Medical Center, White Oak Manor Nursing Home and Hospice of Charleston.
Jerry will be laid to rest with full military honors at Beaufort National Cemetery, 1601 Boundary Street, Beaufort, SC 29902 on Friday, June 17th at 10 am.
The family asks that, instead of flowers or donations, you take the time to honour and celebrate Jerry's life by being kind to someone in need in your community, who may be less fortunate than ourselves at this time. Show them they are not alone.
On the day of his funeral, please also raise a glass of chilled sweet rosé wine in Jerry's honour, while listening to a happy 1970s classic soul dance tune.
We thank you all for the out-pouring of love, affection and compliments to Jerry and for the sympathy and condolences shared since his sad passing.
