Person Page

     Phyllis Jean Pettit was born on 1 March 1926 in Elkhart, Elkhart Co., Indiana.² She married Olin Leon Swikert, son of Leon Swikert and Myrtle LaFern Clark, on 3 October 1942 in Elkhart Co., Indiana.² They were divorced on 20 May 1944¹, then remarried on 4 November 1944, again in Elkhart Co., Indiana.¹ She died on 5 April 2014 in Hemet, Riverside Co., California, at age 88.³ She was buried at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, Riverside Co., California.⁴
     She and her husband Olin are listed with their children in Concord Twp., Elkhart Co., Indiana, in the 1950 census.⁵

     James Norman Kowski was born on 18 October 1924 in Waterloo, Jefferson Co., Wisconsin.^2,4 He married Cleo Maxine Swikert, daughter of Leon Swikert and Myrtle LaFern Clark, on 16 September 1951 at Grace English Lutheran Church in Elkhart, Elkhart Co., Indiana.¹ He died on 18 September 2004 at Holly's Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Nampa, Canyon Co., Idaho, at age 79 after a long illness.^4,2 He was cremated, and buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Waterloo, Jefferson Co., Wisconsin.⁵
     He and his wife Cleo lived in Elkhart, Elkhart Co., Indiana, until 1963, when they moved to Hemet, Riverside Co., California. In June 1979 they moved to Bozeman, Gallatin Co., Montana. In 1995 they traveled frequently between Bozeman and Nampa, Canyon Co., Idaho, helping Cleo's brother Dale Swikert modify the former Carnation Milk Co. building in Nampa to manufacture cargo trailers for his new company, Interstate West, and later to help their daughter Sharon move there. By 1996 they were spending most of their time in Nampa, and in 1997 they sold their home in Bozeman and moved there permanently.⁵
     He worked in mobile home manufacturing plants, later started his own mobile home manufacturing supply business in Hemet, and owned a janitorial business in Bozeman.⁵

     Sheila Miriam Chapman was born on 30 October 1931 in England.^1,3,4,5 She married Duane Clark Swikert, son of Leon Swikert and Myrtle LaFern Clark, on 27 March 1954 at St. Mary's church in Bury St. Edmonds, Suffolk, England. Their honeymoon was a trip to the southern counties, London, and the white cliffs of Dover. They later had a reception back home in Elkhart, Indiana, on 27 November 1954, at the YMCA on West Lexington Ave.^6,7,2 She died on 21 October 2016 at age 84.¹ She was buried at Riverside National Cemetery (Section 13a, Site 350) in Riverside, Riverside Co., California.¹
     She graduated from Bury St. Edmonds school in Bury St. Edmonds, Suffolk, England.⁶

     Wilma June Swikert was stillborn on 12 May 1920 in Otsego, Allegan Co., Michigan.² She was buried on 13 May 1920 at Mountain Home Cemetery (row 4, by the road) in Otsego, Allegan Co., Michigan.^2,3

     Max Alden Swikert was born on 23 July 1921 in Otsego, Allegan Co., Michigan.^3,4 He married Anna Marie Leinweber, daughter of Fred Carlton Leinweber and Irene Bauer, on 12 August 1951 in Columbia Station, Lorain Co., Ohio.^2,1 He died of heart failure on 7 February 2006 in Palm Garden, Polk Co., Florida, at age 84. He had been ill for several weeks, and had had stomach surgery a few weeks earlier.^4,3,5
     He graduated on 2 June 1939 from Otsego High School in Otsego, Allegan Co., Michigan⁶ and in June 1943 from Tri-State College in Angola, Steuben Co., Indiana, with a B.S. in mechanical engineering.⁷ He worked many years at the NASA Lewis Research Center (now the NASA Glenn Research Center) in Cleveland, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio,⁵ performing research on frictional wear and lubrication for various systems and in various environments, including for aircraft engine components, for artificial hip joints, and in outer space. He was the author or co-author of at least 23 NASA reports from 1946 to 1976.⁸
     After their marriage he and his wife Anna lived in Columbia Station, Lorain Co., Ohio.⁵ After his retirement, about 1986, they moved to Winter Haven, Polk Co., Florida.⁴
     He was very much interested in family history, and provided the compiler of this genealogy with scanned images of the letters written by Philip Burlingham while he was working in a mining camp in Soapweed, California, in 1870-71.⁵

More Information / Background

• NASA Glenn Research Center.
  

     Barbara Jean Swikert was born on 7 February 1923 in Otsego Twp., Allegan Co., Michigan.³ She married Harvey Hinkle, son of Elmer Hinkle and Bertha Hoffman, on 10 October 1948 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Allegan, Allegan Co., Michigan.^2,4 She died on 13 October 2018 in Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Co., Michigan, at age 95.³
     After their marriage she and her husband Harvey lived for a time with Harvey's widowed mother Bertha Hinkle in Allegan, Allegan Co., Michigan. They are listed there in the 1950 census, along with Bertha's grandson James O'Connell Jr.⁵
     She was director for medical records at Allegan General Hospital in Allegan, Allegan Co., Michigan, for 20 years, retiring in 1988.³

     Anna Marie Leinweber was born on 21 February 1921 in Columbia Station, Lorain Co., Ohio.^3,4 She was baptized on 1 May 1921 at St. Paul Church in Berea, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio.² She married Max Alden Swikert, son of William Mark Swikert and Margery Agnes Tozer, on 12 August 1951 in Columbia Station, Lorain Co., Ohio.^5,4 She died on 29 March 2016 at age 95.⁶
     She was working as a beautician at the time of her marriage.⁵
     After their marriage she and her husband Max lived in Columbia Station, Lorain Co., Ohio.⁷ They moved to Winter Haven, Polk Co., Florida, about 1986.⁸

     Harvey Hinkle was born on 16 May 1918 in Lee Twp., Allegan Co., Michigan.³ He married first Jean Elaine Sage, daughter of Roy H. Sage and Natalie U. Leighton, on 28 September 1942 in Henry Co., Ohio.⁴ They were divorced on 22 July 1946 in Allegan Co., Michigan, about six months after Harvey's discharge from the Army.⁵ He married second Barbara Jean Swikert, daughter of William Mark Swikert and Margery Agnes Tozer, on 10 October 1948 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Allegan, Allegan Co., Michigan.^2,6 He died on 17 July 1994 at Allegan General Hospital in Allegan, Allegan Co., Michigan, at age 76.³ He was buried on 20 July 1994 at Oakwood Cemetery in Allegan Co., Michigan.³
     He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, entering on 31 October 1942 in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan. He was discharged on 25 January 1946.^7,8,3
     After their marriage he and his second wife Barbara lived for a time with his widowed mother Bertha Hinkle in Allegan, Allegan Co., Michigan. They are listed there in the 1950 census, along with Bertha's grandson James O'Connell Jr.⁹
     From 1955 to 1982 he was employed by Michigan Gas & Utilities.³
     On 15 June 1960 he was admitted to Plainwell Hospital in Plainwell, Allegan Co., Michigan, after suffering a heart attack, from which he recovered.¹⁰
     He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Allegan for many years, and served as an elder.³

     Jennie Kathleen Riemens was born on 21 October 1898 in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.^3,2 She was married by Benj. Zwaagman to Alvin Glee Drake, son of Aden Willard Drake and Cora Viola Burlingham, on 7 June 1916 in Plainwell, Allegan Co., Michigan.^1,2 She died on 11 December 1941 at the Allegan Health Center in Allegan, Allegan Co., Michigan, at age 43 from a stroke.³ She was buried on 13 December 1941 at Mount Ever Rest Cemetery in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.³
     She and her husband Alvin were living in Kalamazoo Twp., Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, in 1920.⁴ They moved to Pine Grove Twp., Van Buren Co., Michigan, sometime between 1920 and 1930^4,5, where they are listed in the 1930 and 1940 censuses. Their son Ernest and his wife Leva were living with them in 1940.^5,6

     Ernest Arthur Drake was born on 14 March 1917 in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.² He married Leva May Camfield, daughter of Loren M. Camfield and Gladys L. Gaines, on 31 August 1938 in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.³ He died on 18 December 1989 in Pine Grove Twp., Van Buren Co., Michigan, at age 72.⁴ He was buried at Earl Cemetery in Pine Grove Twp., Van Buren Co., Michigan.⁵
     He and his wife Leva are listed in Pine Grove Twp., Van Buren Co., Michigan, in the 1940 and 1950 censuses. In 1940 they were living with Ernest's parents, and in 1950 Ernest's widowed father was living with them, along with a widowed friend, Beryl Bewley.^6,7

     Leva May Camfield was born on 21 June 1921 in Gobles, Van Buren Co., Michigan.² She married Ernest Arthur Drake, son of Alvin Glee Drake and Jennie Kathleen Riemens, on 31 August 1938 in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.¹ She died on 19 October 2005 in Big Rapids, Mecosta Co., Michigan, at age 84.^2,3 She was buried on 23 October 2005 at Earl Cemetery in Pine Grove Twp., Van Buren Co., Michigan.^3,4
     She graduated in 1938 from Gobles High School in Gobles, Van Buren Co., Michigan,³ and was working as a hardware store clerk at the time of her marriage that same year.¹ She and her husband Ernest are listed in Pine Grove Twp., Van Buren Co., Michigan, in the 1940 and 1950 censuses. In 1940 they were living with Ernest's parents, and in 1950 Ernest's widowed father was living with them, along with a widowed friend, Beryl Bewley.^5,6
     She was a 4-H leader for many years, and enjoyed hunting, bowling, dancing, and playing cards.³