Carol Elaine Swanson

Beloved Carol Elaine Swanson, 88, died peacefully March 4th, 2025 in Woodstock, Georgia. Mother, wife, nurse, gardener, avid reader, faithful Lutheran and arts and crafts fan lived a full life and was loved greatly by family and friends.

Carol was born on May 13th, 1936 in Omaha, Nebraska to father Ernest and mother Doris Raddle. Her youth consisted of many hunting and fishing trips with her father and flying in her dad’s small single engine aircraft. She was a top Honor Roll student at the University of Nebraska where she graduated with a degree in Nursing. After graduation she enlisted in the service where she ultimately rose to the prestigious position of Second Lieutenant in the Armed Services.

She was married to James Martin Swanson in July of 1959. They eventually moved to Florida where she continued to serve as a nurse for the Veterans Administration Hospital. St. Paul Lutheran church in Tampa was a place where her faith grew as a devout Lutheran and her relationships with friends flourished in groups like Rebecca’s Circle.

They raised their children, David and Kristin there and loved their house on the lake always enjoying the nightly sunsets. As part of their retirement plan, she and Jim bought a home in North Carolina in Lutheridge where they shared some time together in the mountains before he passed away, way too soon. She continued their love of travel for another 20 years, visiting her 5 grandchildren through the years between Portland, Oregon and Woodstock, Georgia.

When the challenging times of poor health began, she always remained positive. She loved her time with the family or spent her days reading. Although completely simple sounding, a perfect day for her began and ended when you handed her a cookie and a cup of coffee!

Carol is survived by son David (wife Stephanie), daughter Kristin (husband Steven) and her five beloved grandchildren Erin, Lindsay, Emma, Andrew and Emily. She is preceded in death by her husband James and brother Steven.

We would like to thank the staff at The Reserve and the people at Agape Hospice who took great care of mom for the last three years giving her all the love possible and she giving us that perfect smile in return.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church, 5103 N Central Ave, Tampa, FL 33603, in memory of Carol Swanson.