Bob Swinney

“...to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord.”  We know that on Thursday, March 4th, Bob Swinney left life on this earth, and began his life in Heaven. It is this that gives us the comfort that we will see him again.

On July 19, 1931 Bob was born to Alvin and Calvin Swinney in Hedley, Texas, and was soon joined by Don, Wendell, Mary, and then Ron. This family lived and worked on their farm, raising cattle and cotton. They eventually moved to Hugoton, Kansas, where Alvin and Calvin dabbled in a myriad of occupations over the years.

Bob enlisted in the Navy to serve in the Korean War In 1950, and proudly served as a Gunner's Mate, 3rd class. He was always proud of his service to his country. In 2015, Bob was able to share the experience of the Honor Flight with Darren. Being able to visit the various monuments and share the experience with Darren was a highlight of his later years.

It was in Hugoton that Bob met Sue (Warren), whom he married in June of 1956. They had their first son, Brent in 1960, and Darren came along in 1963. They lived in Grants, New Mexico for a time, then after a brief time in Indianapolis, they moved the family to Hobbs, New Mexico, where Bob worked for Phillips 66 as a mechanic. Eleven years later, in 1976, the family moved to Puerto Rico, where Bob worked as transportation supervisor for the company. In 1978, the family moved to Odessa, Texas where Bob was Superintendent of Transportation for Phillips Petroleum, retiring in 1992, after 36 years of service.

Bob and Sue loved to travel - visiting all 50 states, Europe twice, and they traveled the Caribbean when they lived in Puerto Rico. They enjoyed taking their grandchildren, Heather and Michael, to San Angelo so they could fish. Fishing was one of Bob's favorite pastimes - he went to Canada many times to fish with buddies in a remote location. He looked forward to these trips each year, as well as the trips to the Rio Grande with long time church friends. They always brought enough fish back to have a fish fry for his Sunday School class.

Bob was actively involved in the life and ministries of Second Baptist Church in Odessa, as deacon, Tableau volunteer - cooking chili or soup, serving hot chocolate, donuts, and soup to those who stood in the cold each Christmas time. Bob took his role as deacon seriously, and looked out for the widows in the church, serving on various committees, teaching Sunday School, and pouring his life into the church he loved. His greatest desire was to see that his loved ones would all come to Christ, as he had many years before.

Family was the most important thing to Bob, and he took care of those he loved. He was a man of quiet strength, and was the patriarch of his family. His love for Sue was demonstrated by his retiring in order to take care of her, and to take her to the places she wanted to see.

Of the five children in his family, he lived the longest, and always had a family story to share with anyone who would listen. Bob traveled to see his siblings, and their families, many times, as family was his main priority.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Alvin and Calvin Swinney, wife Sue Swinney, sister Mary Swinney Hall, brothers Wendell, Ron, and Don. He is survived by son Brent Swinney and wife Donna of Arkansas, son Darren Swinney and wife Donna of Odessa, Texas, granddaughter Heather Swinney, grandson Michael Swinney and wife Jerrika and son Carter, sisters-in-law Sandra Lancaster, Sharon Cooley, Connie Swinney of Elk City, OK, and Carol Swinney of Hugoton, KS, brothers-in-law Wayne Warren, and Glen Hall of Sulpher Springs, TX; as well as many nieces, nephews, and too many friends to name.

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, March 9th, at 10:00 am at Second Baptist Church in Odessa, Texas. Burial will immediately follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home in Odessa. Arrangements entrusted to Sunset Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home.