Our beautiful mother, Rita Swonger, passed away July 10, 2026, at the age of 91. She was born on March 27, 1935, to parents Albert and Alice Smith in Clarion, Pennsylvania. One of 5 children, she is survived by sister, Betty Solms, and brother, Ken Smith. Mom graduated from Clarion H.S and received her nursing degree from West Penn University in 1956.

She married our father, Thaddeus Swonger, in 1955 and needed both her parents and the school's permission to do so. Dad was in the U.S Army and was almost immediately sent to Korea, creating a rather inauspicious beginning to a life of wedded bliss. After Dad served his tour overseas, they welcomed daughter, Kathy, in 1959, followed by sons, Jeffrey in 1962, and Timothy in 1968.

In 1970, the family relocated to Dallas, Texas where Dad attended Christ for the Nations Bible College and Mom worked as a nurse at Methodist Hospital. Following Dad's graduation, the family moved to Oklahoma City where Mom worked at South Community Hospital and finished her career as a hospice nurse. Her son used to tease her because none of her patients survived.

Mom was an accomplished seamstress, creating everything from baby's outfits to wedding dresses. She loved music, played the piano and organ, and sang beautifully. Mom loved people and Boston Terriers. Our home was always open to friends and strangers. She enjoyed travel, including two excursions to the Holy Land with Dad and many trips back and forth to Pennsylvania to visit their families. She was a grandmother to eight and a great- grandmother to nineteen.

Mom made Jesus the Lord of her life at the age of six and served Him faithfully to the end of her life on earth. She spent many hours in her rocking chair with her Bible open in her lap in conversation with her Savior. She epitomized the woman of God described in Proverbs 31. We will treasure that image of her forever.

Our father went to heaven on August 7, 2023, after 68 years of marriage and Mom's heart's desire has been to join him since then. It is a bittersweet occasion to have to say goodbye. Yet, we are rejoicing in the fact that she is reunited with our dad and her Lord Jesus Christ, and we too will see them both soon!

We celebrate the life of an awesome lady and carry our memories of her in our hearts.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, July 25, at No Excuses Ministries, 10901 S. Santa Fe Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK.