Barbara Brewer Swartz, at age 64, went to be with the Lord on February 13, 2019, after a six year battle with cancer. Her dedication to her family and her faith in God gave her strength throughout her struggle.
Barbara was born to Lt. Col. William Brewer and Genevieve Brewer in Furstenfeldbruck, Germany on September 7, 1954. As an Air Force family, they traveled to many worldwide assignments including Germany, Saudi Arabia and Japan. Their stateside assignments included New York, Ohio, Alabama and finally settling in Gulfport, Mississippi, where Barbara attended and graduated from Gulfport High School. She attended the University of Mississippi in Oxford, where she was a member of Alpha Omicron Pi sorority. She went on to achieve her Master of Science in Audiology from the University of Southern Mississippi.
After graduation, Barbara began working with intellectually disabled patients and in clinical offices as an audiologist throughout Mississippi. She then moved to Valdosta, Georgia and took a position teaching audiology to undergraduates at Valdosta State University. It was there, that she met her husband Maj. Rick Swartz, while he was stationed at Moody Air Force Base. They dated for about a year and were married on October 30, 1982 in Gulfport, Mississippi. They then were assigned to Eglin AFB and moved to Niceville, Florida. There they purchased their first home and Barbara gave birth to their first daughter, Laurie, in 1984. In June 1986, they were reassigned to Soesterberg Air Base in Holland where Barbara gave birth to their second daughter, Jenny. In 1988 they moved back to the US to Sumter, South Carolina. Three years later, Rick’s career brought them to their final residence in Titusville, Florida in 1991.
During her days in Titusville, Barbara worked as a clinical audiologist and also taught graduate students at the University of Central Florida. She spent her free time painting watercolors and was an involved member of the Brevard Watercolor Society. She was an active member of Indian River City United Methodist Church, attending many bible study groups and supper club gatherings with friends. She enjoyed photography, bird watching, and traveling with her family. Barbara was an expert family vacation planner; some of her favorite trips included St. Croix, Paris, Copenhagen, Vermont, Hawaii and the West Coast. She enjoyed French culture and was fluent in the language. She was an amazing cook and enjoyed preparing large meals for family and friends. Barbara was a phenomenal wife and mother and dedicated her life to caring for her family.
Barbara is survived by her husband, Richard L. Swartz; her daughter Laurie Hogue, married to Michael Hogue; her daughter Jenny Davis, married to Alan Davis; and her grandson Kellan Hogue.
A memorial service will be held at Indian River City United Methodist Church in Titusville, FL on Thursday, February 21 at 10 am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Melanoma Foundation at www.myamf.org Online condolences may be left for the family at www.northbrevardfuneralhome.com
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