- Home
- News
- Opinion
- Letters
- Sports
- Prospecting
- Essentials
- Obituaries
- Real Estate
- Comics
- Gallery
- Classifieds
- Advertisers
- Coupons
- Contact Us
Share Article
694
385694385
Jan. 31, 1975 — Feb. 27, 2012
Rachel Hatfield-Winkler, age 37, died tragically in her home in Cameron Park on Monday, Feb. 27, 2012. She is survived by three small children: Eva, age 4, Ariel, age 3, and Alex, age 8 months; her parents, Don Hatfield and Diana DeLoach; and brothers, Caleb, David and Matthew.
Rachel attended schools in Napa, Calif. She graduated from Sonoma State University with a bachelor’s degree in business and put her knowledge to work helping many small companies in the Napa Valley. She spent the last few years as a resident of Cameron Park. As the general manager for the Cameron Park Airport District, she was respected and valued by all.
To know Rachel was to love Rachel. She embraced life with both arms and exuded an enthusiasm and grace that was unparalleled. She was a talented artist, like her father. She enjoyed adventure, traveling and the outdoors. Her greatest passion was for her family, and she adored her children endlessly. She cherished her friendships and loved unconditionally.
Memorial services will be held Sunday, March 11, at 4 p.m., at the Napa Four Square Church at 1906 Wise Drive. Children are welcome. Following the service the family invites you to share your memories. Please forward photos to share to Keith Reuter, P.O. Box 4091, Napa, CA 94558 or cascubaguy54@aol.com. Donations can be made at rachelschildrensfund.com to help Rachel’s father create a new home for his grandchildren.
The Mountain Democrat does not necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full policy
KateMarch 10, 2012 - 10:30 am
As far an MR WRIGHT is concerned, there is no reasonable explanation on why people from the airpark are pointing fingers. YES! rachel had 3 beautiful children who are now in this world without a mother or a father because of TODDS actions. Rachel was alone with 3 kids while Todd was gone for weeks at a time. No one knew about what was going on in their relationship except for a handful of people. And if some of you think that rachel "deserved" to be killed or love to point fingers, then you are no better than todd. Rachel was a beautiful person, inside and out! She loved her children very much and would do absolutly anything for them. And concerning the nasty comment towards Mr Wright, you should be ashamed of yourself to even think that he "preyed" on a married woman. She would have died alone if it wasnt for him.
RobMarch 12, 2012 - 6:27 pm
I met Rachel through her husband in Australia. They seemed very happy at that time, so this news saddens me greatly. To those who are venting anger online, please take some time out before desecrating this obituary, as nothing good can be achieved this way. Focus your energy on the children and try to make it positive.
C StarMarch 10, 2012 - 10:39 am
*hugs kate* we all miss her... I feel sad for these people that never had a chance to meet a person as lovely and bright as Rachel, to know what a tragic loss this really is.
HollyMarch 10, 2012 - 7:46 pm
This is such a tragedy and the finger pointing is just to shocking to me- I just feel such sadness over the loss of Rachel. I'm glad to see that she had a some great friends out there like "kate" and I so wish I had done a better job at keeping in touch with her through the years.
CP061March 11, 2012 - 3:46 pm
Kate, C Star, and Holly, you three are incredibly too late with your sentiments, INCREDIBLY TOO LATE! There are no Saints in this matter and there are no winners...the kids have lost, the community has lost, and ultimately Rachel lost the most! James Wright is completely to blame here as well his accomplice Piper10. Piper10 enable the relationship and so did many others. They did not properly counsel James or Rachel on the complex path they were heading down. James has seen this type situation before in the USMC (if he served). It is a regular occurrence that Marines or other solders are punished for Adultery. It was not James' right nor obligation to fulfill a lonely side that Rachel had. If anything, this was yours (Kate C Star and Holly) because you could have provided better judgement direction to Rachel before this grave situation. You may be right, maybe James should not carry heavy burden here. Maybe the 3 of you and other "so called" friends should have this pleasure. I can tell you this, James Wright will never engage a married woman again. If he does then it just affirms how stupid he truly is and the verifies the low intelligence of his pea brain and that he's truly an idiot! Wow, that's a lot but not even true measure of this maggot! Do you know that a Marine Drill Instructor would most certainly knock his lights out for this event he has been captain in.
CP061March 11, 2012 - 3:53 pm
From M Hatfield posted on Facebook today; "if my nieces are old enough to know about christianity, they are old enough to learn about anarchism and atheism. Jesus mat have been a cool extremist, but the bible is racist, sexist, violent, uninformed, illogical, and not good to indoctrinate children with. Secularist uncle Matty. My sister went back to the source. In star wars they'd call it the force. Regardless, she is free. Time to have fun with the kids she spawned. :)" This is ridiculous and not a way to bring these kids around to some level of normalcy in life. Really?
ReaderMarch 11, 2012 - 5:27 pm
CP061: A comment on on obituary, if such a thing should even exist, is a chance to say how much the person was loved and will be missed. It's not a place to express your personal moral or religious indignation. I'm sure this radiant woman deserves better.
macMarch 12, 2012 - 1:21 am
How dare you people leave such horrid comments!! You have no class and are truly the lowest of the low. Very innappropriate, this is an obituary not a blog or pubilc forum. It is a place for people to express their sympathy and fond remembrances. Her family does not deserve this, aren't they suffering enough without your idiotic opinions?
Ana VlastnikMarch 13, 2012 - 10:29 pm
well .Please, please and PLEASE!!!! She is GONE!!! We don't need people here as judge.So move it on.The family needs HELP.For those people who don't have a comfortable words to say so DON"T say anythingYEAHHHHHHHHHH ..Don't act like a NITWIT.
JulieMarch 14, 2012 - 9:18 am
Even though I have never met Rachel or her family I am deeply sorry for losing her to such a tragic event. Reading the comments that were left on the rememberance of her short life was heartbreaking. For her family, please find strength and support in each other to get through this time. For her friends, please be there to help her family remember the good times they had with their daughter and sister. Mostly please help the ones that have suffered the greatest lose of them all, her children. They will never truly know the mother they lost and the only thing that they should know is how much she loved them.
ReaderMarch 14, 2012 - 6:25 pm
Wow- CP061 your comments are really inappropriate- you come across as a very sad individual-
Reader2March 19, 2012 - 7:43 pm
Message to cpo61, Shame on you!