October 29, 1946 – October 10, 2022

Gerald H. (Jerry) Ewing, a distinguished Vietnam combat pilot and information technologist, died October 10, 2022, at the Lake Nona VA Medical Center in Orlando, Fla., after a lengthy illness.

He was born on October 29,1946, in Savannah, Ga., to Helen Burns Ewing and Charles G. Ewing, Sr,, an Army intelligence officer, and lived in Columbus, Ga., Tokyo, Japan, Atlanta, Ga., Baltimore, Md., West Berlin, Germany, where he attended and played football for Berlin American High School, Fairfax, Va., Silver Spring, Md., and Orlando, Fla.

During his military service, he was selected for Warrant Officer Candidate School and flight school. As a helicopter pilot, he served in Vietnam with the 240 th  Assault Helicopter Company, including the notable May 2, 1968, covert mission in which he lost good friends and in which MSGT Roy Benavidez earned the Medal of Honor. On another mission, Jerry saved several soldiers’ lives by flying into their besieged position to provide water and other critical supplies.

Upon his return to the U.S, he was an instructor pilot at Fort Rucker, Ala. Among his decorations are the Distinguished Flying Cross and many Air Medals.

After his military service, Jerry began a career in information technology and systems management with Perot Systems and progressed to management and executive positions with other companies in the field.

Known for his sociability, quick wit and often zany humor, he once wrote a parody of a country and western song called, “Inside Every Silver Lining is a Big Old Dirty Cloud.” He enjoyed fishing, boating, skiing, target shooting, playing the guitar and singing.

He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Suzanne Ewing, of Orlando and Fairfax, Va., two daughters, Jennifer (Matt) Romasco, of Gaithersburg, Md., and Julia Jones of Holiday, Fla., two brothers, Charles G. Ewing Jr. of Okeechobee, Fla., and Laurence Lee (Dottie) Ewing of Winnabow, NC., stepsons Daniel (Michelle) Quinn, Shawn (Suzie) Quinn, Christopher (Jen) Quinn, Kevin Quinn, and 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, a sister, Margaret Mary Ewing, of Fairfax, Va., and Decatur, Ga., and a brother, David Ewing of Fairfax, Va., and Orlando, Fla.

Military services celebrating his life will be held at a date to be determined at the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.

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