It was on a blind date that Susan met the man who would become her lifelong companion, David. “He was so mature. He just swept me off my feet,” she fondly recalls. David served 20 years in active duty, and the couple enjoyed a life of service to our country in the military while raising two daughters.
Of course, it wasn’t always easy moving from base to base — including Guam, Korea, Japan, and other faraway places. Susan says, “I remember moving to the Azores when my oldest daughter was two and a half years old and the other was just six weeks old. That was quite the challenge.”
“Being apart from family, and my girls not being able to see their grandparents, was difficult.” However, despite the hardships, Susan says the sacrifices were worth it.
But when David passed away in 2021 after battling a lengthy illness, Susan had no idea what she was going to do. “I knew I had to sell the house. David took care of everything. I just prayed really hard about where I was going to live.”
Remarkably, Susan’s answer to her prayer came while she was on a mission trip in Zambia…
A friend back in Florida sent an email asking Susan if she knew about Air Force Enlisted Village. “I went right online and read all about it. I had tears in my eyes. I knew immediately that this is where I was supposed to be.”
Like other residents at Bob Hope Village and Hawthorn House, Susan is so appreciative of the care she receives and the programs and activities offered.
“It really is a blessing to be here. We all have so much in common,” says Susan. “It’s like living at base housing again. David and I were married for 54 years. I’m sure I’d be lonesome if I wasn’t here. This really was God-ordained.”
Susan says she is grateful for the wonderful housing, activities, and camaraderie at AFEV and appreciates that residents like her are always treated with dignity and care.
