Gertrude Swinford

Gertrude Swinford, 83, of Mineral City, died Monday, December 12, 2011 in Aultman Hospital.

She worked for a number of years as an assembler of Sparta Ceramic at East Sparta.

Born October 10, 1928 at Vienna, Austria, she was the daughter of the late Bruno & Maria Stumlechter Schmidt. It was in Austria, following the war that she met the man who would be her husband of 64 years, Harold E. Swinford, who survives. The couple made more than 20 trips back to Austria over the years to visit family.

She had a variety of interests including: her love of flowers, playing card games like Euchre and 500, she was keenly interested in what was going on locally and around the world and always enjoyed watching the news on television, and enjoyed writing letters to family overseas.

Along with her husband, Gertrude is survived by: her son, Harold Swinford, Jr., of Zoarville; grandson Michael (Heidi) Swinford of Dover; and great grandchildren Michael & Brianna Swinford.

In addition to her parents, a daughter-in-law, Jessica Swinford, preceded her in death.

Family friend, Pastor Dick Harvey, will lead a funeral service that celebrates Gertrude's life on Friday, December 16 at 1:00 p.m. in the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory, Dover. Interment will be in the German Cemetery. Friends may call in the funeral home on Thursday from 5-8 p.m.

Those unable to attend or wishing to share a fond memory may sign the online register book for Gertrude by visiting the Obituaries & Flowers link on the funeral home's website.

The family suggests that memorial gifts be made to the Dover-New Philadelphia Salvation Army, PO Box 357, Dover, Ohio 44622.