Gladys Bennett Swinhart passed away on Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at Harrah Nursing Center in Harrah, Oklahoma at the age of 91 years. Gladys, daughter of Frank & Lula Bennett, was born February 25, 1918 in Bilby Oklahoma. She was raised in Holdenville, and a graduate of the Holdenville Business College. She was married to Melvin N. Swinhart in Holdenville on Sunday, October 5, 1941. After a brief period in California, (where their children were born) they have been life long residents of Holdenville.
Gladys worked for R.B. Knight at Knight's Variety Store prior to marriage, and for many years at Brown's Fabric Store until her retirement. Gladys was an accomplished seamstress and designer. She made all her family's clothing, Melvin's many suits and ties, as well as coats, bedspreads, draperies, tablecloths, upholsteries, several wedding dresses, and anything else that needed making. Her clothes were embellished with laces, unique combinations of fabrics, and intricate embroidery. She was awarded the prestigious Golden Thimble Award, for a tailored suite she made for Melvin. Gladys was an excellent cook and always had a garden in the back yard. Everybody loved eating her home cooked meals and drinking her ‘famous' iced tea.
Gladys' ‘Papa' was a fiddler, and she inherited his violin. At the age of 69, she decided to take violin lessons, which she did for three or four years. She enjoyed playing it for family and at church for many years. This is a very musical family and, as longtime members of the Holdenville Church of the Nazarene, they sang four and five part harmony. After the children left home, Melvin & Gladys continued singing duets, and sometimes sang in trios, and played their musical instruments until just a few months ago.
Gladys was 91 years young, loved her family dearly, and was always making and doing things for others. She has now joined her parents and six of her 9 brothers and sisters in Heaven. They are: Frank & Lula Bennett, Maudie Giles, Henry Bennett, J.D. Bennett, Thelma Gordon, Frank Bennett, and Betty White. She is survived by her beloved husband, Melvin, their children: Hal & Nola Swinhart of Oklahoma City, Sharon Powell of Harrah, and Nathan & Linda Covington of Tulsa, two brothers, Harry Bennett, Bob Bennett, and one sister, Willa Miner, and a host of nieces, nephews, grand, great-grand, and great-great grandchildren.
Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday November 14, at 2:00 PM at the Holdenville Church of The Nazarene. Internment is at the Holdenville Cemetery.