Lt. Col. Trudell Cowell LeCompte (Ret.) USAF, 77

DOVER - Lt. Col. Trudell Cowell LeCompte (Ret.) USAF, of Dover, departed this life on Monday, March 24, 2008, surrounded by her loving family and friends. She was 77.

Trudell was born in Elizabeth City, N.C.

After graduating from P.W. Moore High School, she entered St. Agnes Hospital and School of Nursing in 1948 and graduated in 1951.

After graduation, she returned to Elizabeth City and worked at the Albermarle Hospital from 1951 and 1955.

Trudell left Elizabeth City for one year to work at Lakin State Hospital.

She returned to Elizabeth City, but only worked one year at which time she decided to join the U.S. Air Force Nurse Corp.

Trudell held various nursing positions, chief of Nursing Services, Air Force, head nurse of obstetrical units (obstetrics was her specialty) and education coordinator for medical technicians.

She traveled extensively while in the Air Force to Europe, Greenland, United Kingdom and China and many places within the United States.

In 1971, she married Leo LeCompte at Dover Air Force Base. They raised twin girls.

In July 1976, she decided to retire from the Air Force and retired as a lieutenant colonel.

She then accepted a teaching position at Kent Vocational Technical School District and taught there for 12 years.

While brainstorming one day, Trudell concluded that it would be a good idea to have a 25-year class reunion for the 1951 graduating class at St. Agnes Hospital and School of Nursing.

The reunion was held in Alexandria, Va., in 1976.

Twenty nurses attended the reunion and it was decided that they would meet every two years, which they have done.

Trudell was a member of the Whatcoat United Methodist Church in Dover where she served on the Staff Parish Relations Committee and was a parish nurse.

She joined Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., in 1972 and served on numerous committees within the sorority.

Trudell was a member that would make things happen and worked behind the scenes not expecting accolades in return.

She was presented the Distinguished Achievement Award from St. Augustine College on Feb. 9, 1985.

She loved bingo, shopping for her family and friends and playing bridge.

Trudell was preceded in death by her mother, Mary Pailin; her brother, Eugene Pailin; and her niece, Jackie Ann Pailin-Harris.

She leaves to celebrate her life, her loving husband, Leo; two daughters, Rhonda P. Holt and Lisa Palmer; a granddaughter, Jazmine Holt, all of Dover; her brother and wife, James E. and Evelyn Pailin Sr. of Tabor City, N.C.; her nephew, James E. Pailin Jr. of Wilmington, N.C.; her brother-in-law and wife, Ronald and Castella LeCompte of Belvedere; her brother-in-law and wife, Delbert and Shirley LeCompte of Cleveland; her sister-in-law and husband, Paula LeCompte-Speed and Jerry Speed of New York; her niece and husband, Felecia P. Freeman and the Rev. Robert Freeman of Geneseo, Ill.; and numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Services will be noon Saturday in Whatcoat United Methodist Church, Saulsbury Road, Dover.

Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Ceremony will begin at 11 a.m.

Burial will be at Sharon Hills Cemetery, Dover.

Arrangements by Bennie Smith Funeral Home, Dover.