Delois Metcalf

Delois Metcalf was born to Sam and Zella Neal in Greenwood, Arkansas on April 6, 1928. She died on June 26, 2022 at Eskaton Village, Carmichael. The cause was an aggressive form of cancer. Married to James Metcalf in 1945, she became a military wife and followed her husband all over the world. When she could not go with him, she waited and took care of children, Terry and Pamela. While stationed in Lakenheath England in the early 1950s, she witnessed history being made when Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the throne following the death of King Georg VI. Delois stood feet away from the caisson carrying the body of the King from Sandringham Castle to the train station for his return to London. A year later, she watched from a window seat in a building on Oxford Street in London as the Queen’s Coronation parade passed by. Two tours of duty as an advisor to the California National Guard allowed James and Delois to live in Sacramento close to their families in Lodi. In 1963, James was reassigned to Frankfurt, Germany and Delois took full advantage of the opportunity to travel throughout Europe. Seven years at Fort Hood, Texas followed and Delois then returned to Sacramento while James served a tour of duty in VietNam which would be his last overseas assignment before retiring. Delois worked for the California Almond Growers for 15 years and she was active in the Pt Loma Nazarene College Auxiliary and the First Church of the Nazarene. They continued to travel and spend summers at their cabin in White Hall on the American River. Delois moved to Eskaton Village, Carmichael in 2010. She was gracious, kind, caring and shared her Southern hospitality generously. She is predeceased by her husband SGM James Metcalf (Ret), parents Sam and Zella Neal of Lodi, Brother Doye Neal, daughter in law, Siggi Blank Metcalf and son-in-law Charles (Chuck) Kunellis. She is survived by her son Terry of Elk Grove and daughter Pamela Metcalf Kunellis of Fair Oaks. Grave side services will be held July 7, 2022, 10:30 a.m. at Cherokee Memorial Park in Lodi with a reception to follow.