Dorothea E. Swinson, 88, of Watertown, Wis., died Wednesday, February 9, 2011, at Shorehaven Health Center Nursing Home in Oconomowoc, Wis.

Services at Christ United Methodist Church in Watertown, Wis. with Reverend Ronald Kral officiating. Burial in West United Methodist Cemetery, southeast of Mt. Erie in Wayne County.

Mrs. Swinson was born April 18, 1922, in Wayne County, the daughter of Artie and Verdie (Borah) Billingsley. She married George Swinson on July 17, 1943, at First Methodist Church in Mattoon. He preceded her in death on June 10, 2002.

She attended schools in Olney and Sullivan, and graduated from Olney Township High School in 1940. She especially enjoyed working in the church and was active in United Methodist Church Women and their Circles in Mundelein, where she and George lived at the Continental Grain Research Farm for 26 years. Dorothea and George also spent 17 years as directors of the Tellers at Mundelein Methodist Church, as well as other positions. She was a member of Christ United Methodist Church in Watertown, Wis., where she was active with JOY and Martha Circles. She was also a member of Order of Eastern Star, #438 in Libertyville, and Eli Pierce Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution in Fort Atkinson. She had been employed at Hawthorn School in Mundelein and retired in 1987 from Lake County Health Department (Environmental Health Division) after serving for 21 years.

Mrs. Swinson is survived by her two sons, William R. (Miriam) Swinson, of Fanwood, N.J., and Gilbert M. (Heidi) Swinson, of Watertown Wis.; six grandchildren.; three stepgrandchildren.; as well as other relatives and friends.

Published in Olney Daily Mail (IL) - February 10, 2011