William “Bill” Swallender went to be with his Father on August 30, 2016.
Born June 7, 1943 to Carl William Swallender & Genevieve Nelson Swallender. Bill’s dad was deceased in a plane crash while traveling with the U.S. World Figure Skating Team in 1961. Bill’s mom (deceased) was with the inaugural Ice Follies.
Bill grew up in Michigan and went to Southfield H.S. where he was captain of the tennis team. Graduating in 1961, he went on to Michigan State University, where he met his wife to be, Mary, the second most important decision in his life.
Before graduating from Michigan State, Bill was paddleball and handball champion for two years. In 1963, MSU invited Bill to represent the university at the US National paddleball championship, where he got to the semi-finals.
Bill & Mary married August 5, 1967. Two boys came from this union, Andy (Leah) Swallender, grandsons, Colin and Peter of Cincinnati, and Greg (Christie) Swallender of Cottondale, FL.
Bill graduated from the MSU Hotel, Restaurant School and pursued a career with Stouffer Food in Short Hills, NJ, Cleveland and Chicago. In 1970, we moved to Indianapolis where he was chosen to be the Food & Beverage Manager at the Indianapolis Athletic Club. In 1971, careers changed and he accepted a position of Treasurer of a local building supply company. In 1984, he went to Rolls-Royce, in Indianapolis, where he worked various positions in finance for 21 years.
Bill also accepted a position of Treasurer for the Meridian Kessler Neighborhood Association which initiated the National Crime Watch Program. Also, Bill was Treasurer, coach and umpire for Haverford Little League Baseball.
In 1972, Bill made the most important decision of his life by accepting Jesus Christ as his personal Savior.
Pleasant View Lutheran Church is where he and Mary worshiped. Bill sang in the choir, held several positions and in 2013, he with Mary accepted a lifetime achievement award for 42 years of church work.
Memorial gifts may be given in Bill’s honor to Pleasant View Lutheran Church, 801 W. 73rd, Indianapolis, IN 46260, the Humane Society (7929 Michigan Road, Indianapolis, IN 46268), or the American Diabetes Association (8604 Allisonville Road, Indianapolis, IN 46268) – Bill was diabetic since 1945.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 10, 2016 at Pleasant View Lutheran Church. Friends may greet the family from 10 a.m. until service time.
Many thanks to family, relatives, and friends who helped him live a wonderful life.
Jonah Petoskey says
Dear Aunt Mary, I’m sending my condolences. I am thinking of you and your family at this time and want you to know Uncle Bill will be missed. Love Jonah.
Karen Myers says
Mary,
When I think of Bill, the first things that come to mind are his strong moral compass, his relationship with you, and the lovely twinkle he always had in his eye. I am so grateful to have gotten to know him. He had an impact on so many people, and we will miss him so. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family – may God comfort and strengthen you, may He hold you in the palm of his hand!
Much love,
Karen Myers
Alison Croker says
Mary, I’m so grateful i’ve gotten to know you and Bill these past several years.He was an inspiration to everyone at pulmonary rehab with his determination and sense of humor. He was an accomplished and unique individual, and will be missed by all who knew him.