Charlotte U. Swinehart

Charlotte U. Swinehart, 90, formerly of Warren, died Monday, December 3, 2007 at Pikeville Medical Center in Pikeville, Ky. She was born June 17, 1917 in Clarksburg, W. Va., the daughter of Thomas Newman and June (Sharp) Umberger.

Mrs. Swinehart was a member of First United Methodist Church in Warren. At the church, she was president of the Women's Society of Christian Service for 8 years; East Ohio Conference Secretary of Mission Education for 4 years, planning the schools of mission for all 4 schools; and president of United Methodist Women for 4 years. She taught Sunday School and worked with the youth. She accompanied the youth choir for years, and was organist at the Howland Mission Church and Trinity United Methodist Church in Jamestown, N.Y.

She was a member of Morning Light Chapter #80, Order of the Eastern Star. She was past worthy matron and was on the floor every year. She was past worthy high priestess of Order of the White Shrine of Jerusalem. She was president of the social order of Beauceant three times, and a member of the Order of Amaranth, where she had been a prelate (chaplain).

She was a member of AAUW; the Warren Women's Club; the Trumbull County Historical Society; the Monday Afternoon Club (past president); the Every Other Week Club (past president), now the Monday Afternoon Club; Kappa Delta Phi (the honorary educational society); and a life member of the Ohio Retired Teachers Association and Alpha Gamma Delta. She served on the board of Directors of Rebecca Williams Community House and the Masonic Temple.

She belonged to the Daughters of American Colonists and was regent of the Western Reserve Chapter. She held several offices, including state offices, and was Ohio State regent 1999-2002. She also belonged to the Daughters of the American Revolution, where she was past regent and current chaplain of Mary Chesney Chapter; and the Colonial Dames of the 17th century, where she was organizing president of the William Gaylord chapter.

She attended West Virginia Wesleyan College. She received a bachelor's degree from Youngstown University and a master's degree from the University of Akron. She was writer, producer, staff pianist, and secretary/receptionist of the Women's Club of the Air on WBLK radio in Clarksburg. She taught English 2 at Howland High School, and taught 7th grade English for 10 years at Mineral Ridge Junior High. She was curator of the Sutliff Museum from 1975 to the present and retired as curator emeritus in 2007.

Surviving are her daughter and son-in-law, Lynette Lee and Robert E. "Gene" Schindler of Pikeville, Ky.; three grandsons: Richard George (Wendy), Brian Leland (Melissa) and Timothy John (Amy) Schindler; six great-grandchildren: Brianna Charlotte, Benjamin Preston, Danielle Carolyn, Caroline Ruth, William Robb, and Michael Thomas Schindler. Preceding her in death are her parents; her first husband, George A. Robb, whom she married August 30, 1941 and who died January 21, 1959; and her second husband, John Claire Swinehart, whom she married August 19, 1966 and who died June 27, 1990.

Services will be 2:00 p.m. Friday, December 7, 2007 at First United Methodist Church in Warren, with Rev. Rick Oaks officiating. Burial will be Saturday at Mt. Harmony Masonic Cemetery in Pennsboro, W. Va. Friends may call 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Thursday at McFarland & Son Funeral Home, and 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Friday in the Van Wye Room of the church. Morning Light Chapter #80, Order of the Eastern Star will conduct services 3:45 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, material contributions may be made to any of the following: Friends of the Sutliff Museum, 444 Mahoning Ave. N.W., Warren, Ohio 44483; First United Methodist Church, 309 N. Park Ave., Warren, Ohio 44481; or United Methodist Community Center, 760 Main Ave. S.W., Warren, Ohio 44481.

Arrangements are entrusted to McFarland & Son Funeral Services Co., 271 N. Park Ave., Warren, Ohio 44481. Please visit www.mcfarlandfuneral.com to view this obituary and send condolences.