Obituary for Carmalita R. Pearce Celebrating Carmalita Rose Pearce May 1, 1943 – November 4, 2018 Rose was born to Samuel Carrol Lewis and Gracie Lee Childs Lewis in Shreveport, Louisiana, she grew up in the Shreveport and Bossier area and talked fondly of her childhood working on the farm and dairy farm. She graduated from Woodlawn High School in 1960. After graduating from high school, Rose had a variety of jobs in food service.
While working at the Cajun Kitchen Restaurant, in Bossier City, she met Kenneth Edward Pearce from Houston, Texas in mid July 1964. Ken was in the U.S. Air Force recently stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base after an overseas tour in Turkey. They fell in love and were married at the Barksdale Air Forde Base Chapel on November 27, 1964.
Their first daughter, Robbin Elizabeth Pearce was born on September 20, 1966 at the Barksdale Air Force Base Hospital in Bossier City, Louisiana. In late November 1966, Ken left for an assignment in West Berlin, Germany. Rose and Robbin joined him in January 1967.
The first18 months they were in Berlin, they lived in a building that had been severely damaged during the bombings of World War II but had been repaired and converted into an apartment building. While in Berlin, Rose enjoyed taking long walks and sightseeing. She loved pushing Robbin in her stroller or pulling her on her sled during in the winter to go shopping at the open markets.
She was fascinated at the sights and sounds of a city which was almost completely destroyed by the bombings of World War II and living in the “Island City” as West Berlin was called, since it was completely cut off from West Germany and surrounded by the Berlin Wall. Rose was a “history buff” and read all she could to learn more about this city and World War II. Their second daughter, Angelia Christine, was born August 13, 1969 in the U.S. Hospital, Berlin.
In Late November, 1969, Rose and Ken left with their young daughters for an assignment at Yokota Air Force Base, Japan. They arrived at Yokota on January 1, 1970. While at Yokota, Rose was active as a children’s Sunday school teacher, a member of the Noncommissioned Officers Wives Club and loved to travel (even though they drove on the wrong side of the road).
In March, 1972 Rose moved her family again, to be stationed with Ken at Royal Air Force Base (RAF), Mildenhall, England. While at Mildenhall, Rose was active in the Girl Scout Program as a Troop Leader, the Parent Teachers Association and assisted with coaching the youth swimming team. She took her Girl Scout troop on tours to London to see Buckingham Palace, the House of Parliament, Big Ben, the Tower of London and many other points of interest.
In June, 1976, Rose again moved her family to be with Ken at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colorado. While in Colorado Springs, Rose remained active in the Girl Scout program, church activities, and worked a variety of jobs to help support the family. In 1982, Rose became a Registered Medical Assistant.
She went to work for TriWest Healthcare Alliance in February 1996 as an Appointment Specialist. At TriWest, she made medical appointments for active duty military members, their dependents and military retirees to receive their healthcare at three Military Healthcare Facilities. In 1998, Rose became ill with multiple medical issues which led to her early medical retirement.
Her medical issues progressed and she was eventually diagnosed with dementia. Rose fought valiantly for over 20 years. Throughout Rose’s life, she always put the welfare and success of her family, friends and others above her own.
Rose was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Roy Carrol Lewis, Charles Etheridge and Elbert Lewis. Rose is survived by her husband of 53 years, Kenneth Pearce; her daughters, Robbin Elizabeth Vaillancourt, Angelia Christine Brown; brothers, Jack Lewis and Johnny Lewis, and five grandchildren. Her grandchildren are Elizabeth Poepping, Tori Brown, Kendra Rose Brown, Joseph Brown and David Brown.
Rose is also survived by her two great grandsons, Blake Wilson and Joseph Poepping, along with many nieces, nephews and friends. We were blessed to have had Rose in our lives. She was a devoted wife, loving mother and Nana.
Although Rose has departed this life to be with her Heavenly Father, relatives and friends in the Kingdom of God, we have his promise that if we believe in His Son, Jesus Christ as our Personal Lord and Savior that we will join her in His Kingdom. Rose, Honey, we love you and will miss you until we join you in your Heavenly Home. To send flowers to the family of Carmalita R. Pearce, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.
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