Funeral services for Bill Swindler, age 89, of Early, will be at 2:00 PM, Sunday, March 16, 2014 at Early First Baptist Church with Clyde Morgan and Eddie Ailshie officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in the Jenkins Springs Cemetery under the direction of Heartland Funeral Home of Early. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday evening from 6:00 until 8:00.
Bill died Thursday, March 13, 2014 at his home.
Bill was born on January 26, 1925 in Wilson, Oklahoma to Murray J. and Maggie Wilson Swindler. His mother died during his birth and he was raised by his grandmother Josie Ketchum Wilson in Ringling, Oklahoma. Bill went on to serve his country in the U.S. Navy from 1943-1946 in World War II in the South Pacific Theater.
Bill married Eddie Ruth Seward on October 1, 1950. He married Wanda Stewart Grisle on April 2, 1999.
Bill was ordained as a minister in 1954 at Northside Baptist Church in Lamesa. He went on to serve Baptist churches in Trent, Blackfoot, Idaho, Midkiff, 7th Street Baptist Church in Ballinger, San Antonio, Freer, 1st Baptist Dallas Mission Department, Loop, Paint Rock, Center City, Novis, and the Cowboy Church in Early. He was a member of Early First Baptist Church.
Bill was a longtime member of the Early Lions Club where he served in various capacities. He also enjoyed restoring old cars and tinkering with kit cars.
Bill is survived by his wife Wanda of Early, a son Michael Swindler of Brownwood, a daughter, Teresa Judge of Kyle; six grandchildren, Taylor Franklin of California, Austin Franklin of Fort Riley, Kansas, John Bradley Freese, Brian Freese of Michigan, Cassie Harmon of North Carolina, and Elizabeth Judge of Kyle; two great-grandsons, Jack and Ford Franklin.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Eddie Ruth Swindler, a daughter and son-in-law, Diane and Fred Franklin.
Bill requested that memorials be made to the Heart of Texas Baptist Camp, 8025 N FM 2125, Brownwood, 76801.
Condolences can be offered to the family at www.heartlandfuneralhome.net.