Benjamin F. "Ben" Swanson

November 27, 1929 - September 18,, 2011

Benjamin F. Swanson, 81, of Bryan, passed away Sunday evening, September 18, 2011 at the Isle at Watercrest in Bryan. A private service will take place at a later date.

Ben was born November 27, 1929 in Austin, Texas, to Dr. Adolph Benjamin Swanson and Edith (Nelson) Swanson. His early childhood was spent in Round Rock, Texas, with his Nelson relatives, including cousins Betty Jo, Janita and Joy, Greta and Sonja. His father was a professor of French and Swedish languages, and his mother was a professor of music, both at The University of Texas.

A concert pianist, his mother graduated from The New York Conservatory of Music. She taught him to play the piano beautifully and instilled in him a lifelong love of music. After Edith's death when Ben was 12 years old, Dr. Swanson married Frances Cummings Waltmon, and he gained a stepsister, Mary (Chuchu) Waltmon of Llano, and stepbrother, DeWitt Waltmon of Houston.

He received a bachelor's degree in physics from The University of Texas at Austin, and a bachelor's degree in physics from The University of Houston. He served in the U.S. Navy from September 1950 to October 1951. He was a Research Physicist for Shell Oil Company in Houston for 38 years. While at Shell, he was an exchange scientist with the Royal Dutch Shell Company in The Netherlands one year 1969-1970, during which time the family visited several European countries.

He became senior staff research physicist and project leader of petrophysical core research. He co-authored three patents related to saturation and permeability of rock samples using mercury capillary pressure curves. In 1989, Ben retired from Shell after a distinguished career. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1990 from the Society of Core Analysts and numerous other awards.

His passions and interests included singing in church choirs and civic musicals, playing piano, sailing, fishing for "crappie," traveling, camping, and architecture.

He was preceded in death by his parents and second wife, Jacqueline Watson
Swanson.

Ben is survived by his wife, Lois Cox Swanson of Bryan; her son, Bliss Records, Sr. of Houston; and grandsons, Bliss Records, Jr., Justin Records, and Alec Marie, all of Houston. Survivors also include: his first wife and mother of his three children, Joanne Swanson York; his three children, Nita, Suzie and Jeff as follows, Jeff and wife, Shea Swanson of Houston, stepson, Shane and wife, Sarah Carvell and their five children. Nita and Neal English of Cedar Park, Texas; and grandson, John Chapman of Austin, Suzie and Chip Collins of Leitchfield, Kentucky; grandsons, Nathan Collins and wife, Sara, of Louisville, Kentucky, Joel Collins and wife, Jennifer, of Davie, Florida, David Collins and wife, Constance, of Flint, Michigan; five great-grandchildren, Taylor Collins, Anson Collins, Sadie Collins, Guy Collins, and Brennan Collins. Also surviving are daughters of his second wife, Caroline Dupuy, Sandra Parker, and Suellen Hill, and their combined 11 children.

Expressions of sympathy can be made at www.memorialfuneralchapelbryan.com