Bernice Evelyn Swinford

Name: Bernice Evelyn Swinford

Calling Hours: Monday, April 11th from 2 to 8 pm at the Weigel Funeral Home in Metamora

Service Hours: Tuesday, April 12th at 11:00 am in the Funeral Home

Bernice Evelyn Swinford, age 88, of Lyons, Ohio, passed away Friday morning, April 8, 2011 at Ebeid Hospice Residence in Sylvania. Bernice was born July 31, 1922 in Toledo, Ohio to Adam Joseph and Mary Elizabeth (Jonkowiak) Dzingleski. Before going off to serve in the U.S. Navy during WWII, Walter Thomas Swinford joined Bernice in marriage on May 22, 1943. While Walter was serving his country, and due to the shortage of workers, Bernice went to work for The Champion Spark Plug Company. Together they shared 35 years raising their nine children, until his death on October 29, 1978.

Bernice was a very active member of the Lyons VFW Post #7574 Ladies Auxiliary. She also served as 4-H Advisor and was a member of the Fulton County Extension Club. She had a green thumb – loved working in her flower and vegetable gardens. She also was an avid Detroit Tigers Fan.

We lost another one of the greatest generations to live - our mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. Left to cherish her memory are her children, Tom Swinford, John (Elizabeth) Swinford, Dennis "Danny" Swinford, Bill Swinford, Dick Swinford, Joe (Cully) Swinford, Krystil (Davis) Powers, Marcia Sebring, and Brenda Hildreth; 16 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; brother, Norm Dzingleski; sisters, Florence (Ted) Haupricht, Carolyn Alberts, Nancy Dzingleski, Rosalie Dzingleski; brother-in-law, Donald Dittmer; aunt, Hattie Wroblewski; and faithful four-legged companion, Annabell.

Besides her husband, Walter, Bernice was preceded in death by her parents; infant granddaughter, Teresa K. Burkholder; sister, Gloria Dittmer; brothers, Adam Joseph Dennis and Robert Brooks; brother-in-law, Raymond Alberts and son-in-law, Daryl Hildreth Jr..

Family and friends may visit Monday, April 11th from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Weigel Funeral Home, 413 E. Main St., in Metamora (419.644.3601), where a VFW Ladies Auxiliary service will be conducted at 7:00 p.m.. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, April 12th at 11:00 a.m. in the Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Lyons Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Ebeid Hospice Residence or Lyons VFW Post #7574 Ladies Auxiliary.

Residence: Lyons, Ohio

Interment: Lyons Cemetery