Willard M. Swartz

Willard M. Swartz
"Bill"
Apr. 14, 1927 - Mar. 23, 2011

Bill was born on April 14, 1927 to Joe and LoDema Swartz. He was a lifelong Everett resident, growing up in town with his brother, Jack, attending Everett High School and Everett Junior College and going to work for the local phone company in 1948.
On September 1, 1950 Bill married his sweetheart, Bertille Becker of Exeter, Nebraska. Together they spent the next sixty years raising their family, providing a loving home for their children and grandchildren and being the best of friends. Bill worked for what became GTE-NW for over forty years, retiring in 1989. He enjoyed his job immensely, which had him trouble-shooting all around town, and from homes to businesses he made many friends along the way. He was a lifetime member of Everett Elks Lodge #479, where he spent many a Thursday evening playing trumpet in the band, and later would spend many an hour at their barbershop keeping up on the latest news. Bill loved a road trip, and took his family on many trips to see relatives and the great western USA, especially his favorite place, Yellowstone National Park, where he had spent a summer working in his youth.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and LoDema Swartz.
He is survived by his wife, Bertie; children, Bill (Arlene), Christy (Mark) Hotton and Kathy (Davy) Landis; brother, Jack (Helen); grandchildren, Michelle Harris, Michael Swartz, Curt (Tian) Hotton, Kim (Tom) Hendry, Liz (Joe) Goldfinch and Kodiak Landis; three great-grandchildren, with another on the way; and many nieces and nephews.
The family will host a gathering at a later date to celebrate Bill's life. We miss you already Dad.
We would like to note a special thanks to Harvey and Maxine Brink and the loving staff at Adagio Adult Family Home who for the last three years cared for our dad Bill like family and continue to care for our mom Bertie in the same way.