November 28, 1943 – November 2, 2025

Laurence Lee Ewing

Laurence Lee Ewing, 81, veteran journalist and local playwright, died Sunday, November 2, 2025, at his home in Winnabow, North Carolina. Lee was born November 28, 1943, in Savannah, Georgia to Helen Elizabeth Burns and Charles Goforth Ewing, Senior. He matriculated from the American High School in Berlin, Germany and earned a B.A. in English (with Honors) from Georgetown University.

He served two tours in Vietnam as an intelligence instructor and combat intelligence officer with the 101st Airborne Division. During his service, he earned several distinguished honors including the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster. He would spend four decades as a reporter and editor for newspapers and media outlets focused on Defense, Government, and local and economic news. His posts included serving as the top editor of the Athens Daily Post (Athens, Greece), the Prince George’s Journal (Maryland), the Army Times, the Air Force Times, and Pacific Stars and Stripes. He covered the White House, the Supreme Court and the Pentagon. His career took him all around the world, echoing the lifetime love of travel that he would share with each generation of his family. He helped to develop and manage early internet news sites including Military City Online, an Army Times – America Online (AOL) news platform. His reporting garnered prestigious awards including first place in aviation writing from the Aviation/Space Writers Association for coverage of an Air Force fighter wing in Saudi Arabia, an award from Dartmouth University Business School for excellence in reporting on economics issues, the Science in Society Award, the National Press Club award for consumer reporting and a top American Legion award for reporting on the more than 8,000 U.S. servicemembers still listed as missing in action in the Korean War.

Throughout this time, he authored and contributed to books, including the 1966 book, The Reference Handbook of the Armed Forces of the World, articles and reviews in The Nation, Columbia Journalism Review, Habersham Review, the National Observer, the Washington Star Magazine, and the Washingtonian. Ewing served as historical consultant to the editors of The Vietnam Experience, a multi-volume history of the Vietnam War published by Time-Life Books and the Boston Publishing Company. He is the author of two novels, countless short stories,  a one-act play, “Tobin’s Obit,” and a recently produced 10-minute play, “Over the Moon.”

In 2006, he and his wife, Dorothy, moved to Winnabow, North Carolina where he became active in Port City Playwrights, the Men’s Club of Wilmington, and the Leadership Wilmington Alumni Council. He remained a member of Berlin Brats, cherishing connections with classmates for more than 60 years. 

He was married to the former Donna Hanley from 1972 to 1985 and they welcomed two daughters, Laura (Andrew) and Shannon (Richard). In 1988, he wed his partner for life, the former Dorothy Mountjoy Winstead, and welcomed her two daughters, Joanna (Jack), and Rachel (Fred), to their beautiful, blended family. He was the eldest of five siblings, and is survived by his talented and loving brother, Charles Goforth Ewing, Jr. He was predeceased by his brothers Gerald Howard “Jerry” and David Ewing, and sister, Margaret Mary Ewing. He was the proud uncle to nieces Jennifer (Matt) and Julia, and numerous step and great nieces and nephews. He was a doting and dedicated grandfather to his three grandsons, Henry and Simon Cooke and Jude Sporrer.

Inurnment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. The family is receiving calls and visitors at the house. Family, friends, and colleagues are invited to sign his guest book and share stories at ewingkind.com. Contributions in memory of Lee may be made to Catholic Relief Services, which was dear to his heart.

Please sign Lee’s Guest Book

Arrangements are being handled by Andrews Mortuary & Crematory, Market Street, Wilmington, N.C.