Norma Jean Swank

October 29, 2018

NORMA JEAN SWANK (1942-2018) Jeanne Swank was born Norma Jean Walchak in Columbus, Ohio, on May 26, 1942. She was adopted as a newborn by her parents, Frank and Ruth Spence, who predeceased her. She passed away Monday, October 29, 2018, at her home in Sugar Hill, Ga. Known as Norma Jean as a little girl, she was known by all throughout her life as Jeanne. She grew up in Mansfield, Ohio and Worthington, Ohio, graduating from Worthington High School in 1960. She briefly attended Ohio State University, where she met the love of her life and the father of her three children, MIke Swank. They were married in Columbus, Ohio on August 31, 1963. They had two children in Ohio before moving to Georgia for Mike's work, and that is where she resided for the rest of her life. She lived in Doraville, Roswell, Peachtree City, Griffin, and finally Sugar Hill. Jeanne was a homemaker for most of her life, and selfless dedication to the people she loved was her reason for being. She raised three kids and a husband, and later dedicated her life and energies to caring for her father and mother as they got older and became ill. Jeanne was known as a great cook, and, until her very last months, still loved to feed herself --and anyone who was around--a delicious, home-cooked meal. She loved to laugh, and she loved music and flowers (especially lilies), but her abiding passions were her family, food, and, of course, dogs: her dogs, her kids' dogs, other people's dogs, dogs on TV...Jeanne simply adored dogs. Jeanne suffered from a number of health issues that largely prevented her from pursuing an active social life in her last decade, but that situation served to intensify her devotion to her family and her beloved dogs Winston and Jasper. She was always happiest when among the people and animals she loved. Jeanne leaves behind her son and daughter-in-law, Chuck and Heather Swank, of Athens, Ga.; son and daughter-in-law, Mike and Tammy Swank, of Sugar Hill, Ga; and son and son-in-law Richard Swank and David Bradley, of DeLand, Fla. Also surviving are her beloved grandchildren: Michael's three sons Brandon, Cameron, and Charlie, and Chuck and Heather's daughter, Joy; and her step-grandchildren, David Anderson and Danielle Bryant. She was also very fond of and close to Heather's parents, Joseph and Mary Berry, also of Athens. Other survivors include her sister, Esther Kessinger of Clearwater, Fla., and her former husband, Mike Swank of DeBary, Fla. A celebration of Jeanne Swank's life will be held Saturday, November 10, 2018 at 11 a.m. (with visitation starting at 10 a.m.), and will take place at Flanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, 4400 S. Lee St., Buford, GA 30518. In lieu of or in addition to flowers, you are encouraged to make a donation in honor of Jeanne Swank to Furkids (Furkids.org), a large and highly reputable no-kill animal rescue in Georgia.