Edna M. Swihart, 88, went home to be with her Lord and Savior at 2:34 a.m. Wednesday, December 7, 2022 at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, Mishawaka.
Edna was born on August 8, 1934 in LaPaz, Indiana, she was the daughter of Frank and Mary Ellen (Eversole) Ritenour. Edna attended LaPaz High School graduating with the class of 1952.
On June 1, 1952 at his bride’s parent’s home near LaPaz, Merl and Edna M. Ritenour were wed. As parents they partnered in establishing a loving home and family of three children: Merl Dean Jr., Anna and Dean. Merl Dean Jr. would pass from this life at six months of age and forever remain in their hearts.
Edna was extremely intelligent and would further her education by attending Indiana University in South Bend and receiving her Master’s Degree in Elementary Education. Edna taught kindergarten for 26 years at West and Washington Elementary before retiring in 1996.
Edna and Merl traveled through 49 of the 50 states, with Anna and Dean in tow and all with the same camper, a “Wind Jammer”. They experienced many things together and never passed by a County Fair or a parade that they would take in.
Family remained very important to Edna, keeping up with everything that her family was involved with. Known as an excellent cook, making food for her daughter’s entire wedding reception, enough to feed 300 guests.
Edna and Merl held season tickets to Plymouth High School basketball games for many, many years and supported the Big Red althletics. Above all she loved God and was a member of Lakeville Trinity Church for many years. Edna devoted her time to the Christian Women’s Connection and also as a treasurer of missions at their church.
Edna is survived by her children: Anna (Arlen) Miller of Plymouth and their son, Andrew Paul Miller, and son Dean Allen Swihart.
She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Merl, siblings: Andrew Ritenour, Russell Ritenour, Ruth Jackson, Kenneth Ritenour, Elmer Ritenour, Edith Hess and her daughter-in-law Jackie Walorski-Swihart.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, December 18, 2022 from 1-3 pm at the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan Street, Plymouth. Funeral services will immediately follow with Pastor Steve Eckart officiating.
A graveside service will be held on Monday, December 19, 2022 at 1 pm in the Oak Hill Cemetery, Plymouth.
Memorial contributions may be given to the Trinity Church-Assembly of God, P.O. Box 508, Lakeville, IN 46536.
William & Anne (Carlson) Sipes says
We are so terribly sorry for your loss. We remember your family in our prayers.
💔🙏🏻🕊
john says
rest in peace edna
Ren Van Gilder says
Sending our sympathy.
Ren and Beverly Van Gilder
Sheila Neff says
So sorry to hear about Edna. Always enjoyed seeing Merle and Edna at my Aunt Edith’s home. Prayers for your family.
Julie Morris says
Anna, Dean, Arlin, Andrew:
My hearfelt condolences on the loss of your Mother, Mother-in-law, Grandma. She was a remarkable woman and a 2nd Mom to me. I will dearly miss her. May your memories of good times and her legacy of love for all of you and her unwavering faith in God give you peace and comfort
David Morris says
David and I would like to offer our sympathies about the passing of your mother. She was a great lady and we enjoyed her yearly Christmas cards and updates of what the family. It has been a long time since we were able to speak to her since we left Indiana, but we enjoyed our conversations as well. God Bless you both and Merry Christmas.
Brian and Joy Ritenour says
Aunt Edna will be missed by many people, including us(Brian and Joy Ritenour) I am sure she heard “Well done my good and faithful servant” as she entered heaven. She was always kind, generous, thoughtful,and, always supportive of her family. This included her nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews. Aunt Edna even drove her and Merl to Spokane, Washington to attend the wedding of our son Matthew.
An example of her kindness and generosity was when I was a young boy (about 10 years old) I was with my father ( Andrew-her brother) at the LaPaz Elevator where she was working. It was a hot summer day. Edna told me- “go ahead and get an ice cream bar out of the elevator’s freezer, in fact, you are so skinny-get two—what a treat that was!!!’
For Joy— a favorite memory is Aunt Edna bringing her baked butternut squash to the family gatherings at Kenneth and Marie’s. Aunt Edna shared the recipe with Joy, and she has made the squash that way since.
Aunt Edna definitely left an example “for all who came behind her”
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.