Eileen M. Levy

COLUMBIA - Eileen Mary O'Brien Levy has joined her beloved husband, Bob, in that place they knew they'd reside together for eternity.

Born July 15, 1921, the second of six children to Esmonde F. and Leocaddie G. O'Brien, Eileen was raised in Scarsdale, N.Y., and attended The Convent of the Sacred Heart and Beaver College. As it was with so many of her generation, Eileen's adult life was shaped by World War II. She married the sole love of her life, Robert M. Levy, in the early stages of the war and he soon departed to pilot B-26 bombers in the European theater. After the war, he returned to New York to resume his career as a stockbroker with Esmonde O'Brien, who held a seat on the Exchange. Then jets became the fighters of the future and Bob decided he'd rather fly than take the daily train to Wall Street.

As was her nature throughout her life, Eileen was more about adventure than large homes and chauffeurs, so in 1947 with two of their three children in tow, they began their career as a military couple.

Never was a woman more suited for the task. Within weeks of arriving at a new station, the house would seem like home to her family, and her infectious enthusiasm instilled in her sons an appetite for the adventure of new people and places.

Moving from station to station on the average of every two years, Eileen's energy, unfailing smile, quick wit and friendly nature earned lifelong friendships that endured the distances created by the peripatetic nature of military service.

She served as president of the Officers Wives' Club at numerous stations and as an ambassador of goodwill for the Air Force and America. Whether living on the edge of the jungle in Panama, the middle of the Arizona desert, a remote airfield in south Georgia, the urban sprawl of DC or the glamour of Europe, Eileen immersed herself in the local culture and the people who created it. As the saying goes, she never met a stranger.

But it was the four-year tour in Bangkok that provided to her the final proof that she'd made the correct choice in leaving the family and friends of her youth. She fell in love with the Thai people and they with her. Never did the United States have a better representative. In addition to fulfilling her obligations as wife of the chief of the Air Section, JUSMAG, which included daily and nightly social events, she devoted a good deal of time to the Bangkok School for the Blind and formed a close relationship with its founder, Genevieve Caulfield. Her years in Thailand remained her benchmark of how perfect life could be.

Eileen and Bob's last duty station was at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, and as was typical, they'd formed many close relationships in Sumter. So they retired there in 1970 and never regretted having done so.

Eileen knew her life was blessed by good fortune, and she savored every moment.

She is survived by her three sons, Brien (Aline), Geoffrey (Susan), and Jamie; four grandchildren, Geoffrey (Karen) Levy Jr., Mary-Brien (Steve) Delaunois, Esmonde Levy and Preston Levy; and great granddaughter Mary-Clare Delaunois. She wouldn't have been capable of knowing how much she will be missed.

A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery.

Eileen would have been honored that any remembrances of her be made to Bangkok School for the Blind, 420 Ratchawithi Road, Tung Prayathai District, Ratchathewi Bangkok, Thailand 10400 (postage is $1.00).

You may sign the family's guest book at www.bullockfuneralhome.com.

The family has chosen Bullock Funeral Home for the arrangements.