Submitted by: Dan Rich

Dorothy Lucille Swihart

Oct. 5, 1915 - Aug. 23, 2008

South Bend Tribune 8/25/2008
MISHAWAKA - Dorothy Lucille (Nichols) Swihart, 92, of Mishawaka, Indiana, died at home on Saturday, August 23, 2008. She was born October 5, 1915, in Rockville, Indiana, the daughter of John T. Cloyd and Elizabeth (Chumley) Cloyd. On May 23, 1939, as Dorothy Cloyd, she married Otis Marcelle Nichols in Rockville. He died March 13, 1976. On May 26, 1978, she married Benjamin F. Swihart in New Paris, Indiana. He died July 30, 1999. She is survived by a daughter, Dolores Marlene (John) Ward of Mishawaka; and stepdaughters, Karolyn Kern of Bristol, IN, Doris (Fred) Casey of Brownsburg, IN, and Naomi (Tom) Pohl of Ottowa, OH. Also surviving are seven grandchildren, Dale (Michelle) Olivier, Lori (David) Sanders, Lisa (David) Peli, Tadesa Nichols and Tanicia (Kenneth) Brandy; 15 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; as well as her dear friend, Esther Thompson. A son, Cloyd M. Nichols, preceded her in death on July 14, 2005. Two brothers and three sisters also predeceased her. Dorothy graduated from Greene Township High School, Judson, Indiana, and was employed at Turkey Run State Park, Marshall, Indiana, and Mishawaka Uniroyal. She was a homemaker most of her life. She accepted Jesus at age 15 and became a member of the Parkeville Christian Church, Judson, Indiana. She was a member of First Christian Church in Avon Park, Florida. She was a member of the choir and her husband, Ben, served as an Elder. They lived in Avon Park, Florida, for 12 years before returning to Indiana in 1992. She attended Grace Bible Chapel in Mishawaka until severe arthritis prevented her attending. The family would like to thank Sandra Scott and "Granny's Girls" for their loving care in the last days of Dorothy's life.