Dolores Ruth Swaney, 95, a resident of Columbia, passed away on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, at Boone Hospital Center.
Dolores was born on October 3, 1928, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, the daughter of Arron Wille and Ruth (Hoffman) Wille. On September 15, 1951, she married David Roy Swaney, and he preceded her in death on June 21, 2009.
Dolores was the middle of three daughters, older sister Suzanne and younger sister Mary, the “Wille girls.” She received her nickname from Mary who at a young age called her DoDo and that stuck with her for the rest of her life. Always practical, she trained as a bookkeeper, then followed Mary to Antioch College, where she met David, the love of her life. She joked that while she was at Antioch College, she received her Mrs. degree. They moved to St. Louis and had two children, Chuck and Nancy. She was a very adventuresome Girl Scout troop leader, taking her troop on many trips including canoeing in the Ozarks and backpacking in Colorado. DoDo was meticulous and creative, excelling at knitting making numerous sweaters for her family the last of which she completed at age 90. She was a joyful person who was quick to laugh, joke, and smile, delighting all those around. Her passion and joy was travel, initially yearly car trips with her family, international trips with Dave, and then numerous fun trips with the tour leader who became her good friend, Joy.
She will be sadly missed and forever remembered by two children, Charles Swaney and wife Jan of Santa Fe, New Mexico and Nancy Moss and husband John of Columbia; two grandchildren, Leah Sanchez and husband James of Santa Fe, New Mexico and Arron Swaney and wife Julia Baller of Washington, DC; three great grandchildren, Robert Sanchez, Caroline Sanchez and Quinn Baller.
Dolores was preceded in death by her parents; husband David; two sisters, Suzanne Jenkins and Mary Mathias.
