Out-of-state
VICTORIA, Texas — Stephen Wesley Swafford, 83, of Victoria, passed away surrounded by his loving family on October 19, 2023.
Steve was born September 15, 1940, in Jonesboro, Ark. to the late Mary Edna Page and Irvin Wesley Swafford.
“E” and I.W., as his parents were called, cherished their only son dearly. His childhood was spent in Little Rock, Ark., where he loved playing with his cousins and neighbors. He was a member of the 1958 graduating class of Central High in Little Rock. While at Central High, he was a valued member of the track team where he held the long jump record for a number of years after his graduation. He was fortunate to attend college at the University of Oklahoma on a full track scholarship and earned a Bachelor of Science degree and later a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering.
Steve valued lifelong learning, which helped him during his long career in the oil and natural gas industry for over 50 years. Steve served his country in the United States Army from 1965 to 1967 and gained the rank of Captain.
He met the love of his life, Margaret Elizabeth Kenner, and they married January 30, 1965. They enjoyed 58 wonderful years together, raising two daughters. He later found great joy in being “PopPop” to four grandsons.
Steve loved the outdoors, particularly fishing on the lake and gardening. He was also a talented artist, creating a number of beautiful watercolor paintings and wood works.
Steve is survived by his wife of 58 years, Margaret Kenner Swafford; daughters, Stephanie Page Swafford Bruce (Blair) of Spring, Texas, and Margaret Allison Swafford Whitaker (Don) of Victoria, Texas; and his grandsons, Wesley Blair Bruce of Norman, Okla., Samuel Don Whitaker of Richmond, Va., William Richard Bruce of Spring, Texas, and Andrew Swafford Whitaker of Victoria, Texas. He was a member of the United Methodist Church and leaves a legacy of faith, family, and love to his children and grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, November 4, 2023, at 2 o’clock in the afternoon at Rosewood Funeral Chapel with full military honors under the auspices of the Victoria Veterans Council. Words and prayers of comfort may be shared with the family at www.rosewoodfuneralchapel.com.
Memorial gifts may be made in support of the “The Stephen Wesley Swafford and Margaret Kenner Swafford Scholarship” at the University of Oklahoma. Checks made payable to the “OU Foundation” can be mailed to: The University of Oklahoma Foundation, P.O. Box 258856, Oklahoma City, Okla. 73125-8856. For brevity, in the check memo line, “Fund #43468 Swafford” may be used.
Online gifts can be made at www.oufoundation.org by selecting the red “Give” button in the top right corner, then under Designations choose the “Search Other OU Foundation Funds” box and a new window will open. Select the last option, “Other Fund Not Listed,” then use the same fund number above in the specification box.