Betty J. Swonger

Betty J. Swonger, age 87, of Dover, died peacefully early Monday, February 23, 2009, in Country Club Retirement Center at Dover.A daughter of the late Homer and Olive (Metzger) Affolter, Betty was born at New Philadelphia on June 18, 1921.Betty attended New Philadelphia High School and on October 1, 1938, she married the love of her life Eugene C. Swonger.A homemaker the majority of her life, Betty was revered by her family and was remembered as a woman who spent all of her energy in loving each of them. Betty had a sense of humor that matched no other as she kept her family entertained with her quick wit, a trait which she claimed she inherited from her father.For a period of time, Betty worked outside of her home at the Nickles Bakery at Navarre. She was proud of the fact that Nickles purchased her recipe for applesauce cookies which were sold through the bakery for more than twenty-five years.Betty was talented at crocheting and often found herself making beautiful afghans and other items at the request of her family. For many years, Betty enjoyed interacting and meeting the many individuals that browsed the booth that she and her son, Gene, Jr. operated at the Dover Flea Market.Betty leaves behind two daughters, Lois (Bill)Demattio of Midvale, and Carol “Sue” (Mike) McHale of Vermilion, Ohio; three brothers, Bennie (Doris) Affolter of Texas City, Texas, Ed (Betty) Affolter of Troy, Ohio, and Jim (Hazel) Affolter of Frankfurt, Indiana; three sisters, Doddie (Ben) Bucher of New Philadelphia, Helen Calendine of Dover, and Martha (Bob) Dillon of New Philadelphia; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.”Grandma Betty” will be remembered by her six grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren and a great-great grandchild as a loving spirit who enjoyed entertaining and teaching her family the value of compassion; a legacy she built and memories she created that will live through each of them throughout their lives.Throughout the last several years, the family has been greatly appreciative of the numerous talented and loving caregivers at The Country Club Retirement Center at Dover, many of whom thought of her as their own grandmother.In addition to her parents, Betty was preceded in death by her husband; a son, Gene Swonger, Jr.; a stillborn son, Billy Swonger; and a sister, Mary Calendine.Friends are invited to call Thursday, February 26, 2009, from 10:00 â?? 11:00 AM in the Geib Funeral Center at Dover where Mr. Mel Anderson will lead a service celebrating Betty’s life at 11:00 AM. Burial will follow in the Dover Burial Park. Following the services, the family would like to invite guests to join them in the Hospitality Room of the Dover Geib Center where a meal and fellowship will be shared.In appreciation of their exemplary care, the family requests memorial contributions in Betty’s name may be sent to Hospice of Tuscarawas County, 201 West Third Street, Dover, Ohio 44622.Geib330-343-5506www.geibcares.com