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Cemetery Location Map to Gravesite |
Birth Date: 1/21/1917
Death Date: 9/12/2001
Washington Park East Cemetery
First President, Building 6, Section W 43, Row 8, Crypt 81 D
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| I am proud to say that Dewey Swanson was my father. He was a caring and loving husband, father, grandfather and friend and will be missed. When he seems so far away we will have our loving memories to keep him near. He has left behind his loving wife of 60 years, Stella, myself, my wife Dawn, grandson Jason and his two 'angels' as he called them Kristen and Courtney. My father is what many now refer to as the Greatest Generation and I truly believe he epitomized that phrase. Growing up in rural Virginia, living with his grandparents after losing his father at age 6, he spent his teens like many his age surviving the hardships of the Great Depression. He then served in the Army during World War II and was in the Battle of the Bulge, the last great battle to defeat Germany in the war. Living through this period as millions of Americans did shapes your outlook on life and my father was no different. He appreciated what he had and though not rich in a material sense he was thankful for richness life brought him. I never heard him complain about those days but tell me what he had learned from them. After the war he and Stella moved to Indianapolis. He worked for over thirty years retiring in 1982 from Western Electric. He was very proud of having made telephones at AT&T for 31 years. As you might tell from what I've said so far, when he did something he was in for the long haul, 60 years of marriage, 31 years working at the same place, virtually unheard of these days. That was my Dad. He believed if you take care of things and maintained them they would serve you long and well. My parents lived in the small eastside home on 17th Street for 41 years and he took immeasurable pride in his 1974 Ford LTD with a mere 50,000 miles on it! He took pride in both but as you can tell he didn't need the largest, newest or most expensive houses and cars. I will miss that comfortable feeling of security, that everything is okay even as the rest of the world speeds by. I always had that feeling when he and I were together. When I get that sad feeling all I have to do is look at my children and I can see Grandpa in each one of them. Whether it is a look, a grin, or the way something is said or done. My Dad is no longer with us physically, but he lives on through me and my children. We will miss but never forget.Dewey A. Swanson |
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The handsome soldier and beautiful bride, during World War II.
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Dewey and Stella in November 1942 with Stella's Dad, WT and friends, Orlando and Lucille.
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The young couple move to Indianapolis in the early 1950's.
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Dad working in the molding department at Western Electric, where he worked for over 30 years.
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Dewey, Stella and Dewey A. in the early 1960's.
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Visiting brother Emory down in his birthplace in the mountains of Virginia. Pictured with Dewey are Emory, Hasbee and Stella with Jason and Kathy in the back.
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Grandpa with the family, including newcomer Kristen, on Jason's 22nd Birthday.
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Dewey wearing his NAWC cap with in-laws, Joe and Bonda, Tim and Vivian and Fred and Patsy.
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A happy Grandpa welcomes 2 day old Courtney Stella home in 1997.
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Dewey with Stella, Dewey A. and wife, Dawn and three grandchildren, Jason, Kristen and Courtney.
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