John Bill Swink, known as "J.B.," passed from this earth on Sunday, May 28, 2006, at South Place Nursing Home in Athens, at the age of 86 years, 7 months and 15 days. He was born near Dawson on Oct. 13, 1919, to Myrtle Lacy Peay Swink and Roy George Swink.

Roy George Swink died when his son was six months old. Myrtle and her young child moved to Corsicana, where, on Christmas Day 1925, she wed Will M. Taylor. Thus, for Christmas, J.B. got a daddy, brothers and a sister. The couple later added another son to their family.

After graduation from Corsicana High School in 1938, J.B. worked for a local bank, beginning a business career that was to span four decades.

During World War II, he served in the United States Army Air Corps, Field Artillery Air Detachment. In this time, he met and married Margaret Dougherty on Dec. 29, 1943, in Glendale, Ariz.

After his military service, he and Margaret moved to his hometown, where he returned to his bank job. Later establishing himself in the utilities field, he eventually moved with his family to Athens, where he later joined New Era Electric Cooperative. In 1982, J.B. retired as general manager of New Era.

He was a member of First Baptist Church in Corsicana and later First Baptist Church in Athens. J.B.'s other activities and involvements were many and varied. He was a board member of Corsicana's Chamber of Commerce and Industrial Foundation, continuing his work in these areas in Athens. He was active on the Athens Park Board, in the annual farm and ranch tour, Henderson County Regional Fair, 4-H, and FHA. One of his proudest moments was completion of North Park in Athens and renaming it O.D. Baggett Park in honor of Justice of the Peace Baggett, the first African-American to serve in an elective office in Athens.

His devoted wife Margaret died on Christmas Eve 2004. Also preceding him in death were his parents, four brothers, and two sisters.

Surviving are his daughter Sharon and husband Wayne, his son Bill and wife Judi, and his granddaughters Gretchen and husband David, Angela, and Holly and Jennifer. In addition, he is survived by his precious great-grandchildren, Hailey and Cooper. Surviving, also, are brothers- and sisters-in-law Joe Hodges Sr., Jack Wallace, Fran Taylor, Lavern Taylor, Eva Shelton, and Holly Hankins, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 3, at Corley Funeral Home Chapel, Corsicana, with burial to follow at Oakwood Cemetery, Corsicana.

Sherwin Hankins, Jim Hankins, Kie Hankins, Joe Hodges Jr., Guy Furr and Chad Morgan will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are Dr. Buster Geddie, Herbert Smith, Joe Bob Tekell, Don Taylor and Hollis Swink.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 2, at Gordon-Foster-Brown Funeral Home, 402 E. Tyler, Athens.

The family suggests that, in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts be sent to favorite charities.

An online guest book is available at www.gfb@cox-internet.com by selecting the J.B. Swink obituary.

Arrangements by Gordon-Foster-Brown Funeral Home, Athens. ∞