Otis Swinger

Otis E. Swinger, son of the late Hershal and Gladys Snider Swinger, was born near Dexter, Missouri on April 27, 1926, and passed away at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Missouri on February 13, 2013, at the age of 86 years, 9 months and 17 days. He had lived in Dexter most of his life until moving to Wappapello eight years ago. He had worked as a self employed auto mechanic and was a member of the Church of Chirist in Essex. He had served in the US Army Signal Corp under General George S. Patton during World War II through out Europe. He was first married to Bonnie Jean Curd on September 20, 1947. She preceded him in death on May 11, 1977. On December 1, 1979, he was married to Mary Alice Reaves Johnson in Marble Hill, Missouri. Surviving are his wife; Mary Alice Swinger of Wappapello; four sons, Darrell Swinger and Paul Swinger both of Dexter, David Johnson of Bloomfield, Ron Johnson of Poplar Bluff; four daughters, Betty Black of Bloomfield, Debra Ward of Poplar Bluff, Dana Johnson of Cordova, Tennessee, Melissa Moore of Holcomb; fifteen grandchildren; fifteen great grandchildren; three brothers, Harry Swinger of Dexter, Chet Swinger of Wabash, Indiana and Marlin Swinger of Morehouse. Other relatives and friends also survive. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Phyllis Elaine Ward in 1999; three brothers, Junior, Lester and Charles Swinger; and one sister, Fern Gaines. Visitation will be Tuesday, February 19, 2013, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, February 19, 2013, at 1:00 p.m. at the Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri with Bro. Herman Morse of Dexter, Missouri officiating. Interment will be in the Missouri Veteran's Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri with full Military Honors. Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter in charge of arrangements.