Robert Swehla

01/31/1927 - 10/13/2010

SWEHLA, Robert Keith (Age 83) Our beloved "Energizer Bunny" left the earth October 13, 2010 and soared straight into God's loving arms. Robert Keith Swehla was born January 31, 1927, in Chicago, Illinois to William and Kathleen (Miller) Swehla. Most of his youth was spent studying piano and developing a lifelong love of classical music and working in his father's service station. He graduated from Sterling (Illinois) Township High School in 1944. He enlisted in the Army Specialized Training Program at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. There he met his future wife, Doris Robinson, at a campus dance. After ASTP training, Bob was stationed in Kansas, Louisiana and New Jersey and was preparing to be shipped overseas when the war ended. He finished his tour of duty in New Jersey. In 1946 he enrolled at the University of Illinois, graduating in 1950 with a BS in Psychology. He and Doris married in 1947. Bob was a classical pianist with a degree in psychology who worked for most of his career as an Industrial Engineer. Bob, with Doris and their four children, moved often as he found new challenges as an efficiency expert at General Electric, United Airlines, General Dynamics, Pacific Plantronics, and Bell and Howell. When Peace Corps wanted families in 1970, Bob, Doris and daughter Robin enlisted for two years in Bucaramanga, Colombia. Back in the US, Bob worked in administration at Goodwill Industries and then as director of Helpline, a crisis intervention program. He returned to work as an Industrial Engineer at Prescolite. Bob and Doris moved to Spokane in 1981 where he worked for Columbia Lighting, Keytronics and Telect retiring in 1992. Bob was a Lay Speaker for the Methodist Church, active in Boy Scouts, church activities, professional organizations and local theater. He had major roles in plays in Medford, Oregon, El Dorado, Arkansas, and in Spokane with Rogue Players, Civic Theater, and ACT. Bob is survived by his wife of 63 years, Doris; children: Keith Swehla, Kevin (Fran) Swehla, Brian (Colleen) Swehla, and Robin (Dave) Cole; grandchildren: Lisa, Jennifer, Skylar, Erin, Andrew, Jody, Spencer, Mike, and Kate; great-grandchildren: Justin, Grace, and Christian; and his sister, Dianne (Rick) Graham. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Kathleen and his brother, David. Special thanks to the staff at Hospice House, North Pines Dialysis Center, and to Dr. Henry Mroch and his nurse, Heidi. His "If you knew Dad, wear plaid" memorial celebration will be Saturday, October 16 at 10 a.m. at Spokane Valley United Methodist Church, 115 N. Raymond Rd. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in his memory to Hospice House of Spokane, Spokane Valley United Methodist Church or Spokane Valley Church of the Nazarene. Please sign Bob's online guestbook at www.hennesseyfuneralhomes.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to: