Obituary for Archibald Bernard Cardwell Jr.
Archie Bernard Cardwell Jr. passed on Sunday, May 1st at Meritus Medical Center in Hagerstown, Maryland with his wife, Linda Bell Cardwell, two daughters, Tracy Yvonne Williams and Erica Nicole Cardwell, and his daughter-in-law, Zhaleh Afshar by his side.
Archie was born on November 2nd, 1949, in Winston Salem, North Carolina. He was the son of Emma Jean Williams and Archie Bernard Cardwell, Sr. He was raised by his maternal grandparents Mamie Gilmer and, alongside his paternal grandmother, Grandma Brown. When he was 16 years old, he moved to Dayton, Ohio to live with his mother, Emma Jean Williams and enroll in Dunbar High School, where his friend Marian Anita Blow, introduced him to her best friend, Willarena Lowe. The two started dated soon after that. After graduating from high school, the two were married and welcomed their first daughter, Tracy Yvonne in the fall of 1969. He was known for bringing his daughter Tracy on campus to class and to anti-war demonstrations. Very soon after that, in 1970, Archie was drafted into the US Army to serve in the Vietnam War. Despite his dreams of being a history teacher, Archie would go onto serve in Korea and Vietnam. Once he returned to Dayton, Archie earned his B.A. at Wright State University in 1983 under the GI Bill.
Archie alongside his wife Willa, his daughter Tracy and his sister-in-law Regina Lowe moved to Olympia, Washington between 1974-1977. While the family was back in Dayton, Archie worked at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. In 1982, his youngest daughter Erica Nicole was born.
In 1984, Archie was recruited by the US Air Force to participate in an internship program called Copper Caps. Soon after that, Archie, Willa, Tracy and Erica moved to Macon, Georgia where Archie began work as a Contract Specialist at Warner Robbins Air Force Base. The family lived there until approximately 1988 before moving to Hagerstown, Maryland where Archie would work as a Contract Administrator in Fort Ritchie Maryland until its closing in 1994. He and his family were members of the congregation at Fort Ritchie Chapel. The family settled in State Line, Pennsylvania in 1995. Archie’s military career continued at this time, in Fort Meade, MD in the following missions: Operation Joint Guard in Germany, Operation Joint Endeavor in Afghanistan, and Operation Noble Eagle an anti-terrorism endeavor and post-9/11 support.
Tragically, his wife Willarena lost her life in a car accident in August 2003.
After Fort Ritchie closed, Archie began working as a Grant/Contract Administrator in the Military Amputee Research Program (MARP) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. Later, he was appointed as the Deputy Associate Director, Office of Small Business Programs, US Army Medical Research and Material Command (USAMRMC). Upon retirement from his government work, Archie was also a Level III certified in Contracting and was a member of the National Contract Management Association (NCMA).
In 2010, he married Linda Bell Cardwell. Together they cared for their beloved dogs, Colonel, Sarge, Patton, Lieutenant, and his special companion, Mozzie.
His military career spanned from Squad Leader to Chief Senior Military Financial Operations Advisor. After nearly 39 years of military and government service, Archie retired in December 2010 as a Master Sargeant.
Archie served as a Trustee at Zion Baptist Church from 2007 until his passing in May 2022. He was a proud member of the church community and counted his time there as an extension to his life.
Archie is survived by his wife, Linda Bell Cardwell, his daughters Tracy Yvonne Williams and Erica Nicole Cardwell (Zhaleh), granddaughter Heaven Leigh Williams; his younger brother Richard Williams, and many more beloved family and friends.
Archie was born on November 2nd, 1949, in Winston Salem, North Carolina. He was the son of Emma Jean Williams and Archie Bernard Cardwell, Sr. He was raised by his maternal grandparents Mamie Gilmer and, alongside his paternal grandmother, Grandma Brown. When he was 16 years old, he moved to Dayton, Ohio to live with his mother, Emma Jean Williams and enroll in Dunbar High School, where his friend Marian Anita Blow, introduced him to her best friend, Willarena Lowe. The two started dated soon after that. After graduating from high school, the two were married and welcomed their first daughter, Tracy Yvonne in the fall of 1969. He was known for bringing his daughter Tracy on campus to class and to anti-war demonstrations. Very soon after that, in 1970, Archie was drafted into the US Army to serve in the Vietnam War. Despite his dreams of being a history teacher, Archie would go onto serve in Korea and Vietnam. Once he returned to Dayton, Archie earned his B.A. at Wright State University in 1983 under the GI Bill.
Archie alongside his wife Willa, his daughter Tracy and his sister-in-law Regina Lowe moved to Olympia, Washington between 1974-1977. While the family was back in Dayton, Archie worked at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. In 1982, his youngest daughter Erica Nicole was born.
In 1984, Archie was recruited by the US Air Force to participate in an internship program called Copper Caps. Soon after that, Archie, Willa, Tracy and Erica moved to Macon, Georgia where Archie began work as a Contract Specialist at Warner Robbins Air Force Base. The family lived there until approximately 1988 before moving to Hagerstown, Maryland where Archie would work as a Contract Administrator in Fort Ritchie Maryland until its closing in 1994. He and his family were members of the congregation at Fort Ritchie Chapel. The family settled in State Line, Pennsylvania in 1995. Archie’s military career continued at this time, in Fort Meade, MD in the following missions: Operation Joint Guard in Germany, Operation Joint Endeavor in Afghanistan, and Operation Noble Eagle an anti-terrorism endeavor and post-9/11 support.
Tragically, his wife Willarena lost her life in a car accident in August 2003.
After Fort Ritchie closed, Archie began working as a Grant/Contract Administrator in the Military Amputee Research Program (MARP) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. Later, he was appointed as the Deputy Associate Director, Office of Small Business Programs, US Army Medical Research and Material Command (USAMRMC). Upon retirement from his government work, Archie was also a Level III certified in Contracting and was a member of the National Contract Management Association (NCMA).
In 2010, he married Linda Bell Cardwell. Together they cared for their beloved dogs, Colonel, Sarge, Patton, Lieutenant, and his special companion, Mozzie.
His military career spanned from Squad Leader to Chief Senior Military Financial Operations Advisor. After nearly 39 years of military and government service, Archie retired in December 2010 as a Master Sargeant.
Archie served as a Trustee at Zion Baptist Church from 2007 until his passing in May 2022. He was a proud member of the church community and counted his time there as an extension to his life.
Archie is survived by his wife, Linda Bell Cardwell, his daughters Tracy Yvonne Williams and Erica Nicole Cardwell (Zhaleh), granddaughter Heaven Leigh Williams; his younger brother Richard Williams, and many more beloved family and friends.