Rose Campbell Zwan

Rose Campbell Zwan, age 90, passed away on Sunday, the 29th of June in Houston. She was born the 5th of November 1923 in Tyler, Texas to George and Alice Campbell. She graduated from Tyler High School and Tyler Commercial College. She worked several years as an Executive Bookkeeper and Secretary before going into business with her husband, Alphonse Zwan, whom she married in 1946. They had been married 57 years when he died in May of 2003.

Rose was the owner and manager of Z-The-World Travel Agency, which was renamed Airbank in 1971. She ran the Agency until 1990 when it was sold. Following that, she worked for Ron Mafridge Enterprises, until she retired in 2000.

After the death of her husband, Rose devoted her time volunteering for St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital. In April 2013, she was honored with a Lifetime Service Award at the Annual Gala in Houston. She also volunteered at the West Houston Hospital for 12 years where she became a Lifetime Volunteer Member. She was recognized as an Outstanding Volunteer in 2007 and was awarded the First Humanitarian Award.

Mrs. Zwan was very active with the Lebanese American community throughout the United States. She served many years as Secretary of the Southern Federation of Syrian Lebanese American Clubs (SLAC), and was also the Secretary of the National Federation of SLAC. In 1990, she was elected President of the Southern Federation. She had served as a Trustee and on the Board of Directors of the Southern Federation Foundation. For over 10 years she raised thousands of dollars for academic scholarships each year to help young students with their college education. Mrs. Zwan was recognized as SLAC Woman of the Year in 1955, 1959, and again in 2007.

Rose was predeceased by her husband Alphonse, after 57 years of marriage, her brothers, John R. Campbell of Kansas City, MO; Dr. Joseph Edward Campbell of Philadelphia, PA; and sister Lenette Campbell of Tyler, TX. She is survived by her sons, Dr. Bryan J. Zwan, wife June, of Boulder, CO, Al Zwan, wife Darlene, of Aurora, CO; grandson Ryan Zwan, of Buffalo, NY; granddaughters Chelsea Zwan, of Los Angeles, CA, Amanda Zwan and Kathryn Zwan, of Boulder, CO, Courtney Fletcher and husband Rick, of Clearwater, FL, and Johnna Warner and husband Ian, of Castle Rock, CO; brother Harvey A. Campbell and wife Starr, of Beaumont, TX; sister-in-law Shirley Kamel, of Tyler, TX; and many nieces, nephews, beloved friends, neighbors, and co-workers.

Rose Zwan was a caring and devoted wife, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt, and a dear friend to everyone she met. Her love, gentle spirit and generosity have touched so many. She had a very kind heart and a nurturing spirit, always serving and wanting to care for others.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from seven o’clock until nine o’clock in the evening on Wednesday, the 2nd of July, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston, where the Rosary is to commence at seven o’clock.

The funeral mass is to offered at half-past ten o’clock in the morning on Thursday, the 3rd of July, at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 625 Nottingham Oaks Trail in Houston.

In Tyler, the family is to receive guests from nine o’clock until half-past ten o’clock in the morning, on Friday, the 4th of July, at Lloyd James Funeral Home, 1011 East First Street followed by a private interment at Rose Hill Cemetery.

Zwan