Freestone County, Texas
Obituaries


Fairfield Recorder newspaper
June 11, 2009


Eleanor Grace (Parker) Swank

Funeral services were held Saturday for Eleanor Grace Parker Swank, 90, who died 
Wednesday, June 3.

Mrs. Swank was born in Fairfield on Sept. 3, 1919 to Walter Alvin Parker and 
wife Leatha Pittman Parker.

She attended Westminister Junior College and received her bachelors degree from 
Denton's Texas Women's University where she was a member of Alpha Chi.

On Sept. 17, 1947, she married John Swank Jr. at her parent's home in Fairfield.

She was a devout Methodist and a member of Lovers Lane United Methodist Church 
where she attended the adult forum Sunday school class and the United Methodist 
Women's group.

Mrs. Swank later attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas where she 
received her masters degree in liberal arts.

She worked for the Central University Libraries and oversaw the formation of 
Colophon, Friends of the SMU Libraries.

After retiring, she remained active in the SMU Staff Retirees Association and 
served as president of the Apogee Investment Club.

Mrs. Swank also had a great interest in genealogy, tracing her own family's 
lineage and becoming active in numerous organizations including the Daughters of 
the American Revolution, the United Daughters of the Confederacy and the War of 
1812.

In the TWU Former Students Association, she worked for many years on the 
scholarship committee.

She also enjoyed participating in the Mary K. Craig class, the Criterion Book 
Club and the First Friday Bridge Club.

Services were held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 6, in the sanctuary at Lovers 
Lane United Methodist Church with a reception following at Wesley Chapel.

Mrs. Swank is survived by her son, John Parker Swank; daughter, Alice Ruth 
Swank; and brother, Herb Parker and wife Faynell.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John Swank, Jr.; son, David Walter 
Swank; daughter, Marian Elizabeth Swank and caretaker, Marie McClennon Jones.

Memorials may be made to Lovers Lane United Methodist Church or Friends of SMU 
Libraries.