Harford, Marge (Swanton) 1938-2023

HARFORD, SWANTON, HINZ, KOCH, BURGESS, CASPER, WICKHAM, BAILEY, WADE, CHESSHIRE

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 1/3/2024 at 12:14:23

Marge (Swanton) Harford
December 3, 1938 ~ December 27, 2023 (age 85)

Margie Helena (Swanton) Harford, 85, of Newton, died on Wednesday, December 27, 2023, at Windsor Manor in Grinnell. Visitation with the family will be held at Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory on Saturday, January 13, 2024, from 1-2 p.m., followed by a small service at 2 p.m.

Marge, the daughter of Maurice Cecil and Lillian Bertha Sopha (Hinz) Swanton, was born on December 3, 1938, near DeWitt, Iowa. The Swanton's owned a strawberry and sweet corn farm on the outskirts of Maquoketa, and Marge had fond memories of working the fields with her father and siblings. She graduated from Maquoketa High School in 1956. On November 12, 1956, Marge was united in marriage with Carlton Neale Harford in Maquoketa. The two met while working at the local JC Penney’s department store.

After living in Wisconsin, Carlton and Marge moved back to Maquoketa for Carlton to attend school at the State College of Iowa (SCI), now called UNI. In 1964, the family moved from Maquoketa to Cedar Falls where Carlton began working for SCI in the data processing department. Marge stayed home to raise their family and was active in card clubs, bowling league and community gatherings. In 1970, the family moved to Newton, Iowa where they owned and operated the Hidden Valley KOA Campground for eight years. As the kids grew, Marge traveled the community as an Avon lady, making many life-long friends. She began managing H&R Block in the 70's, before joining Selby/Updegraff/Smith/Holwerda Law and later Walker’s Law Office as a tax preparer.

Marge was known for her love of horses, landscaping with unique varieties of the Hosta plant which she split off and sold to others, and a deep appreciation for music - especially songs by The Bee Gees, Neil Diamond, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, and Kenny Rogers. She passed this joy for music on to her children.

Those left to honor Marge’s memory include her sister, Darlene (Gerald) Koch of Clarksville, TN; her brother, Kenneth Swanton of Goose Lake, IA; her children, Melinda Burgess of Newton, Patti Casper (Randy Wickham) of Montezuma, Sheryl (Darrell) Bailey of Horse Cave, KY, Vicki (Shawn) Wade of Newton, and Matthew Harford of Des Moines; 11 grandchildren; 10 great-grandsons, 3 great-granddaughters, another great-grandchild on the way; and two great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Carlton in 2013; her parents and in-laws; sister-in-law, Meredith Swanton; brother-in-law, Donald Harford; a son, Michael, in infancy; and granddaughter, Stephanie Chesshire.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be left at the funeral home or mailed to Vicki Wade, 909 S. 5th Ave W., Newton, Iowa 50208. Please make checks payable to Vicki Wade. The children will later choose a project in memory of their mother.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Marge (Swanton) Harford, please visit our floral store.

Services
VISITATION
Saturday
January 13, 2024
1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory
1115 E. 19th St. N.
Newton, IA 50208-2539
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FUNERAL SERVICE
Saturday
January 13, 2024
2:00 PM
Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory
1115 E. 19th St. N.
Newton, IA 50208-2539
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Tribute Wall ~ The Wallace Family Funeral Home, Newton, Iowa 27 Dec 2023.