Joe Lee Swindle Sr., born Aug. 15, 1925 in Parrish, Ala., died Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at his home in Camden, surrounded by family.
He graduated from Minor High School where he played on the football team. He served in the Merchant Marines and one weekend, while docked in Savannah, Ga., he met Ella Marie Dominick, whom he married in 1949.
They began their family in Birmingham with the addition of their first and only son and later a daughter. Theythen moved to South Bend, Ind., where they completed their family with three more daughters.
The Swindle family was active in the Donmoyer Avenue Church of Christ while living in the South Bend area, where he served as a Deacon, and later, at the Foley and Summerdale Churches of Christ, when they moved to Alabama. He was responsible for the Benevolent Building at the Summerdale Church of Christ until his health prevented him from continuing his work there.
Affectionately known as “Papa Joe,” he was blessed with seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, who loved and respected him and learned valuable life lessons from him, as an exemplary role model of unwavering faith and one who loved his family unconditionally.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Gleason and Trudie Swindle; sister, Ruth; two brothers, Sam and Bobby Gene; his wife, Marie, who was killed by a drunk driver in 1996; son, Joe Lee Swindle Jr.; and daughter, Margaret Trudy “Maggie.”
Survivors include three brothers Jack Swindle of Foley, Bill Swindle of Lafayette, Calif., and Tom (Ruth) Swindle of Seminole, Fla.; sister, Maryof Elberta; three daughters, Mary (George) Massey of Orlando, Fla., Debby (Randy) Collins of Coy, Ala., and Janey (Adrian) Frost of Pensacola, Fla.; seven grandchildren, Kelsey, William, Hollen, Jessica, Alexandra, Gleason, Ana; three great-grandchildren, Landry, Christian and Emme; many beloved nieces and nephews.
Visitation begins at 1 p.m. with a Celebration of Life service at 2 p.m. Friday, July 1 at Summerdale Church of Christ. Burial will follow at Pine Rest Memorial Park, Foley.
The family requests memorial donations be made to Cottage Church of Christ, Camden, Ala.
Arrangements are by Pine Rest Funeral Home Inc., Foley.
