Lou Jean Bennett Swindell

Lou Jean Bennett Swindell, 88, passed away surrounded by her loving family and friends on July 8, 2017 at Hendrick Hospice Care Center in Abilene, Texas.  Lou was born January 8, 1929 in Stamford, Texas to David Stribling and Alma Lois (Lyon) Bennett.

Lou grew up in Stamford, Texas and moved to Abilene with her family when she was 14. She graduated from Abilene High School in 1946. After high school she attended McMurry College where she was a member of the Delta Beta Epsilon Social Club. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in General Business in 1950.

She met her future husband, Don Sterling Swindell of Quanah, Texas at McMurry. They were married on June 5, 1950 at Fairmont Methodist Church in Abilene, and were happily married for 45 years. They began their married life together in Quanah, where their daughter Nancy was born in 1951. They moved to Plainview, Texas in 1953 and to Abilene in 1956. Their daughter Susan was born in Abilene in 1964. Lou and Don were members of Aldersgate United Methodist Church beginning in 1957. Lou and Don cheerfully served the church for many years. They worked in the nursery and Lou drove the church bus, taking youth groups on various trips.

Lou’s father was a newspaper agent in Stamford, Texas and Lou started delivering papers when she was 10. She had fond memories of rising early to meet the truck and getting coffee with her dad. Lou spent 40 summers as a water safety instructor for the American Red Cross, and taught beginning swimming to thousands of Abilene children. She worked as a substitute teacher and drove a school bus for AISD.

Lou spent the majority of her life caring for others and touched countless lives with her kindness and loving spirit. She was a friend to everyone she met and would go above and beyond to help others.

Lou was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Don, her brother David Stribling Bennett Jr., and her nephew Jeff Gilbert.

Lou is survived by her daughter Nancy Kay Cravey and her husband Ron of Leander, Texas, her daughter Susan Orr and her husband Kevin of Abilene, Texas; her sister Virginia Gilbert of Abilene, Texas, her sister Gloria Robertson of Dallas, Texas; her grandchildren Caitlin Jean Cravey, Valentina Orr, and Katie Orr; and her nieces Lynn McKendrick, Amy Hocking, Gail Scruggs, Paisley Penzes-Switzer and nephews Gordon Gilbert, Rick Robertson, and Jason Bennett; many beloved cousins; great nieces and nephews; and long-time family friends Melanie Whitaker and Eloise Rodriguez.

A memorial service will be held at Aldersgate United Methodist Church at 10:00 am Thursday July 13, 2017. A visitation with the family will be held at Piersall Funeral Directors, 733 Butternut, Abilene, Texas from 5:00-7:00 pm Wednesday evening. Burial will be held at Elmwood Memorial Park.

Donations can be made to Hendrick Hospice Care Center, 1633 Pine, Abilene, Texas 79601. Condolences may be offered to the family online at www.pbfuneraldirectors.com.