Dora (SWIGART) BENNETT

SWIGART, BENNETT, MCANINCH, DICKSON, ARCHIBALD, GREIMANN, ENGLAND

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 7/30/2010 at 05:10:37

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
December, 1988

OBITUARY - DORA SWIGART BENNETT

Dora SWIGART BENNETT, daughter of Grant and Eva McANINCH SWIGART, was born June 4, 1904, in Lotts Creek Township, Ringgold County, Iowa, and passed away at the Ringgold County Hospital in Mount Ayr, Iowa, on November 28, 1988, at the age of 84.

She attended rural school in Caledonia and was graduated from Kellerton High School. Dora attended summer schools in Shenandoah and Chariton, the Moody Bible School in Chicago, Illinois, and the North Western Bible School in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She taught children in rural schools in Decatur and Ringgold Counties for seven years.

On December 10, 1933, Dora married Charles Phineas BENNETT in Lotts Creek Township, Ringgold County, Iowa. The couple established their home in Liberty Township on the BENNET family farm where they resided for 54 years, enjoying their three children, their grandchildren, and their great-grandchildren.

When Dora was thirteen-years-old she accepted Christ as her Savior, and during her lifetime she served Him in witness and by example. A member of the Wishard Chapel Church, Dora served in many roles, Sunday School teacher, pianist, Bible School teacher, and with her husband as a counselor for the M.Y.F. for fourteen years. She was also active in the U.M.W. and in the Martha JOHNSTON W.C.T.U. She served as the Ringgold County W.C.T.U. president for a number of years.

Dora loved her family deeply, rejoicing in their achievements, supporting them in trials, and always promoting the bond of family love. She authored a book of childhood stories which she presented to her children and grandchildren that they might life as she knew it as a young person. In addition she assisted her husband in compiling and publishing genealogy stories to preserve historic records of various branches of the family.

Hommaking was a career to Dora, as she shared her talents with many, creating lovely wedding cakes, memorable butterhorn rolls, and her handiwork, of which her favorite was the stitching of beautiful quilts.

Preceding her in death were her parents; three sisters, Cleta DICKSON, Ruth ARCHIBALD and Dora's twin sister, Donna GREIMANN, and one grandson, Charles Wesley BENNETT.

Remembering Dora with love are her husband; two sons, Warren and wife Ann of Grants, New Mexico, Robert and wife Wanda of Mount Ayr; one daughter, Marian and husband Jim ENGLAND of Tingley; four brothers, Francis of Lamoni, Merritt of Des Moines, Weldon of Creston, and Paul of Davis City; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren, and many, many friends.

Services for Dora BENNETT were held at 2 o'clock on December 1, 1988, from the Wilson-Watson Funeral Home in Mount Ayr, Iowa, conducted by Rev. Jack KENDALL. Vocal music was provided by Jim and Carol Ann McCREARY, who sang "When I Get to the End of the Way: and "Crossing the Bar." They were accompanied at the organ by Mildred SMITH.

Casketbearers were Steve ENGLAND, Scott ENGLAND, Shad ENGLAND, Steve SOBOTKA, Jim POORE and David TWAIT. Burial was in the Rose Hill Cemetery at Mount Ayr, Iowa.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, July of 2010