Patrick Raymond Churchville was born in Washington, D.C. on August  21, 1945.  He passed away while scuba diving with his wife, Elizabeth Jean Anderson, in Turks and Caicos on April 29, 2022.  He was 76.

Patrick began life as a military dependent.  His father, Colonel Francis Churchville,  was a proud member of the United States Marine Corps. Colonel Churchville, his wife, Cecilia Mae Boyer,  and their blended family of five boys lived in Hawaii, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and Quantico, Virginia.  Patrick and his dad collected stamps from around the world, which Patrick credited with his interest in foreign lands. He also took up fishing, and cherished the memory of fishing with his dad.  After the Colonel retired to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Patrick became a Florida boy. He graduated from Stranahan High School in 1963,  lived briefly in Winter Park, Florida, and then attended the University of Florida. In his Florida years, he became a keen table tennis and bridge player, as well as an excellent  golfer. He used to make side money from betting against older golfers who didn’t think this high school kid could beat them. The fishing continued.

When Patrick was about to be drafted during the Vietnam War, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, where trained for a year as an Arabic linguist. After language school, he could speak, read, and write fluent Arabic—skills he used for the rest of his life. His Arabic was so good that native speakers couldn’t believe he wasn’t from the Middle East. He spent time in Ethiopia as a linguist for the army—and also spent five weeks in the hospital with hepatitis.  Having blood drawn twice a day for five weeks and eating a lot of canned salmon resulted in his penchant for hand washing and his dislike of doctors. And he was never that fond of salmon.  During and after his army years, he attended the University of Maryland, where he graduated in 1971. His son, Jason Drew Churchville was also born that year.

Patrick then accepted a job with Lockheed Martin in Orlando, Florida, where  his daughter Jessica Denise Churchville was born in 1973. More table tennis and golf, and an MBA from University of Central Florida followed.

In 1982, he met Elizabeth Jean Anderson in Dhahran. She was a Spanish teacher, and one of his friends used to tease him about “taking Spanish lessons.”  They were married in Bahrain in 1984, with only their best man (also the photographer) and maid of honor.  About eight months later, they were remarried Stateside, complete with white wedding dress and tuxedos, dancing,  and lots of friends and family. In Saudi Patrick took up scuba diving. He and Elizabeth dove the Red Sea off Jeddah, Saudi Arabia when there were no dive boats, just very difficult shore dives. From KSA they went on a camera safari to Kenya,  trekked in Nepal, stayed on a houseboat in Kashmir, travelled around India for four weeks, and went to both Egypt and China with Alice, Elizabeth’s mother.

When Patrick and Elizabeth left Saudi Arabia in 1985, they embarked on six month trip abroad, ending with one month traveling in the U.S. They traveled with scuba gear and warm and hot weather clothes—and a lot of cameras equipment. Nothing was digital in those days, and Patrick was a keen photographer. They visited the Maldives, Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, Burma (Myanmar), Thailand, Australia, the Philippines (five days after Marcos left), and spent a month in New Zealand. Lots of diving  and some fishing along the way.

Eventually they made their way to their new home in Orlando.  Orlando was a time of new experiences and old and new friends.  Patrick started his own computer business and Elizabeth went into real estate.  They entertained a lot, with an annual New Year’s Eve soiree complete with champagne, a sit down dinner, and dancing. They also continued diving in the Caymans, Cozumel, and Florida. A great part of being in Orlando was that Patrick got to see more of Jason and Jessica, who lived in Atlanta and often visited Florida. Sadly, Patrick’s son Jason lost his battle with muscular dystrophy in 1988.

Eventually overseas called again, and in 1999 Patrick and Elizabeth moved back to the Middle East, this time to Bahrain. Patrick didn’t much like his job but loved living in Bahrain.  It was much more open than Saudi Arabia. He got to use his Arabic, and he didn’t have to make his own booze. Of course, having a “houseboy” and his wife who did dishes, cleaned, and ironed every day didn’t hurt.  Travels from Bahrain included the Seychelles, Mauritius, Jordan, Oman, Lebanon, and the Maldives, While there, Patrick and Elizabeth made enduring friendships with people from around the world. In 2002, Elizabeth began teaching with the Department of Defense schools, and that set the course for the rest of their working lives. Patrick also worked in the school for a year as the Administrative Technologist.  He was much loved and valued by the teachers and staff, after having had only a day of training by his predecessor. The Arabic teachers treasured him, because they finally had someone they could speak to directly, rather than through a translator. 

From Bahrain, Elizabeth accepted a transfer with the DOD to an air force base school in the Azores, Portugal.  Patrick started working as a civilian in IT for the Air Force. They stayed there five wonderful years in a beautiful home that had an 180 degree view of the Atlantic Ocean, and the world’s best landlord. They traveled extensively—again—to mainland Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Croatia and South Africa. There was wine tasting involved.

In 2010 they transferred to Aviano, Italy, A.F Base (about an hour from Venice). In their four year there, Patrick tried his best to become an Italian wine expert while he continued working in IT for the U.S government. Patrick and Elizabeth travelled a great deal in Italy and also became well-versed in cheap flights with Ryan Air to Malta, Sweden, and Zanzibar. He also had a vegetable garden outside and grew African violets inside.

There were also visits to the States during these years, when Patrick got to see his daughter and to know his two beautiful grandchildren, Ashlyn and Kian.

In 2014, Patrick and Elizabeth retired to Merritt Island, Florida. They purchased a home, joined a gym and Patrick filled their screened pool area with plants and herbs. Fortunately, Patrick had almost eight wonderful years as a retiree.  He was so happy to fill in occupation as “retired” on any documents. During his last eight years, Patrick and Elizabeth went to South America twice, completed ten cruises, camped in national parks –in a tent—for three weeks, and took many road trips.  Although Patrick traveled to 110 countries, he really enjoyed getting to know the USA again and loved fishing in Western Massachusetts and Louisiana. He was a keen griller and made the best smoked turkey you’ve ever had.

On April 29, while on yet another cruise to the Caribbean with Elizabeth, Patrick died in a scuba diving accident. People who know him well say that he would have been happy to go quickly and painlessly, doing something he loved with the woman he loved.

He was predeceased by his brothers Russell Curtis, Michael Thomas Churchville, Francis Jess Churchville, and Timothy Dennis Churchville.

He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Elizabeth Jean Anderson; his daughter, Jessica Thiel; his granddaughter, Ashlyn Witzke; his grandson, Kian Knutson; his nephews Paul Curtis, Bill Churchville, Frank Churchville, and many other nieces and nephews.

Patrick will be remembered for his love of laughter, travel, and food and wine. He was an excellent athlete, chef, photographer, gardener, and Arabic speaker—and a really good friend, father, brother, uncle, and husband.

There will be a celebration of life held this fall in Merritt Island. For now, please share your memories, stories (even embarrassing ones), and PHOTOS (especially of you and Patrick) on this website.