REEDVILLE—Cynthia “Cindy” Rose Ewoldt, 69, of Reedville entered the presence of her Savior on July 10, 2026, at her home, surrounded by her loving family.
Cindy was born on June 30, 1957, in Morris, Illinois, the fourth of five children born to George Andrew Hendricks and Geraldine Doris Rose. She spent her childhood in rural Illinois, growing up in the church her father planted in Braidwood, Illinois. Those early years—filled with Sunday worship, family trips to Texas to visit relatives and a home centered on Christ—laid the foundation for a lifelong and unwavering faith in Jesus.
Following in the footsteps of her older siblings, Cindy attended the University of Illinois, where she earned both a bachelor’s in history and a master’s in social work. After graduation, she moved to Galveston, Texas, to begin her career as a social worker. It was there, at a Wednesday evening Bible study at University Baptist Church, that she met Matthew Ewoldt, a young Coast Guardsman whose love for Christ matched her own.
Matthew and Cindy were married in Braidwood on July 31, 1981, at Main Street Baptist Church, where her father faithfully served as pastor. Together they began a remarkable journey of faith, family and service. While Matthew served in the United States Coast Guard, they made homes in Galveston and Corpus Christi, Texas; Washington, D.C.; and Mobile, Alabama. Along the way, they welcomed two sons, Nathaniel Stevens Ewoldt and William Bentley Ewoldt.
Though trained as a social worker, Cindy believed her highest calling was to invest in her family. She joyfully embraced being a full-time homemaker and dedicated herself to raising her sons with wisdom, patience and steadfast love. She delighted in their interests, encouraged their dreams, and was their biggest supporter through every season of life.
Home was where Cindy’s heart came alive. She was the keeper of her family’s stories. She carefully preserved old photographs, labeled with names and dates, ensuring that future generations would remember where they came from. Her laughter filled the home, and her singing—whether in church on Sunday or around the house during the week—reminded those around her that joy was meant to be shared. She had a gift for making a house feel like home and a family feel deeply connected.
Cindy was a devoted Chicago sports fan from an early age. She fell in love with baseball while listening to Chicago Cubs games on the radio, enthusiastically danced along to the “Super Bowl Shuffle” and treasured the unforgettable years of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls with her boys. Those simple moments became cherished family memories that were as much about being together as they were about the games themselves.
To know Cindy was to be welcomed. She greeted everyone with an infectious smile, genuine kindness and a heart that reflected the love of Christ. She possessed a servant’s heart, quietly caring for others and pointing them toward the hope found in Jesus. Whether through conversations, acts of hospitality, or simple acts of kindness, she desired that everyone would come to know Christ personally and deeply.
Wherever the Coast Guard led her family, Cindy cultivated beautiful gardens. She loved planting flowers and watching them flourish, but her greatest gardening was spiritual. Just as faithfully as she planted seeds in the soil, she planted seeds of the gospel in the lives of those around her. Her life bore witness to the words of Galatians 6:9: “Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
Cindy’s legacy is one of unwavering faith, sacrificial love, joyful service, and steadfast devotion to her family and to her Savior. The seeds she planted—in her children, her grandchildren, her friends and all who knew her—will continue to bear fruit for generations to come.
The family will hold a memorial service at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 18, at Afton Methodist Church in Heathsville.
In lieu of flowers, Cindy requested that memorial donations be made to The Gideons International or the Fredericksburg SPCA.
Cindy is survived by her beloved husband of nearly 45 years, Matthew Ewoldt; her sons and their wives, Nathaniel Stevens Ewoldt and Sarah Elaine Ewoldt, and William Bentley Ewoldt and Kaitlyn Elizabeth Ewoldt; her cherished grandchildren, Audrey Grace and Grayson Bentley; her brothers, Robert Andrew Hendricks and John David Hendricks; and her sisters, Dr. Kate Walters and Faith “Liz” Nance.
Although Cindy will be deeply missed by her family, friends and all who were blessed to share her life, we do all rejoice in the sure hope that she is now at home with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and that one day we will be reunited with her around the throne of God, worshiping the Lamb together for all eternity.
