David Deal Jewell

“I’d like to be a could-be

If I could not be an are

For a could-be is a may-be With

a chance to be a star”

Papa, legally known as David Deal Jewell, was so named by his first granddaughter, Ayla. Having had no previous experience with babies, Papa carefully stepped into the role of full- time grandpa in 1999. Ayla’s birth opened the flood gates for six more grandchildren for which Papa gave every ounce of love and care that he had. Ayla, Scott, Zoey, Ralf, Jill, Zach, and Nathan will forever carry with them his endearing smile and appreciation of model trains.

Papa became a “could-be” on February 21,1942, in Charleston, South Carolina. He was born to Lucille and Fred Jewell. Although his childhood was not without its challenges, he had some beautiful memories indelibly planted in his brain. Some of them included watching the train that carried FDR through his town from the perch on his dad’s shoulders, receiving his first toy train for Christmas when he was 4 years old, and teaching himself to play guitar by dismantling his brother’s toy guitar to figure out how chords work. Papa attended Clemson University, after which he served as a medic in the National Guard. He eventually found himself as an architectural draftsman with Avery Wood Associates. It was there, sitting at his desk with his nose to the grindstone and his tie flung over his shoulder, that David met his beautiful wife, Judy. When he joined hands with Judy on May 1, 1976, he adopted her two children, Jeff and Susan. He raised them as his own. He attended every sports game and never had a doubt in his mind that they could be and do anything they desired.

In the early 2000s, David and Judy moved to Wilkes County. Papa brushed off his draftsman pencils and designed their beautiful house on the hilltop. To Papa’s dismay, he was vetoed on the closet to house the fully decorated artificial Christmas tree. Living in the mountains, the family instead insisted on a real tree that was at least 8-9 feet tall. Truly, it was his fault for building a house with high vaulted ceilings! He did get his wish of building a large model train room. Having had experience with model train layouts from his retirement job at the Great Escape in Greenville, SC, Papa created a masterful piece of locomotive art in his own home. It was an almost perfect replica of the town with the exception of a bright blue Thomas the tank engine.

Papa was a genealogy expert and an adept musician. Though he could play the piano and guitar, his favored instruments were the ukulele and harmonica. At the hands of his grandchildren, he became an avid Disney watcher and could quote most of Cinderella by heart. Papa darned socks, repaired electronics, pumped tires, burned CDs, and taped videos for his family. His intelligence and fantastic memory could only be outmatched by the love that he managed to put into a gentle pat on the back or a warm hug. Most mornings he could be found at the dining room table watching the birds soar over the mountain, but not before giving his wife a kiss as she drank her coffee.

“I’d rather be a has-been

Than a might-have-been by far

For a might-have-been has never been But

a has-been was an are”

Papa/Davey/David passed away on November 30, 2024 in the presence of his family. While surrounded by love and adoration, Papa went to rest knowing that, undeniably, he was our “are”.

With more love than you can imagine,

Your Zoboo

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