Betty Moss Swygert

Betty M. Swygert passed away on April 23, 2014. She was the daughter of E. Max Moss and Julia DeLoach Moss and was born in Statesboro, Ga. She grew up in Chicago, IL and Savannah, GA. She graduated from Wesleyan College in Macon, GA with a Fine Arts degree; and, thereupon, she returned to Savannah where she taught art at her high school alma mater, Savannah High School. Betty had been selected by the Savannah Junior Chamber of Commerce upon her high school graduation as the most outstanding girl in 1950. At Wesleyan, she was a member of The Senate, a part of the College Government Association; a House President; Co-President of the Art Club; Art Editor for several publications; and a Senior Superlative. The 1954 yearbook summed-up Betty this way, “…we always feel that she is going somewhere, and we have no doubt that it will be far.” While teaching at Savannah High School, Betty met then-First Lieutenant Donald R. Swygert, a U. S. Army Corps of Engineers officer who was stationed with the Corps’ Savannah District. They were introduced by Betty’s uncle who was an attorney with the District. They were subsequently married at then-Hunter Air Force Base in Savannah. Betty and Don first lived at Fort Benning, GA; then College Station, TX; Fort Belvoir, VA; Verdun, France; Troy, NY; West Point, NY; Mokuleia, HI; Quantico Marine Base, VA; New Cumberland Army Depot, PA; Carlisle, PA; and Alexandria, VA. Betty was especially active as a leader in the various women’s chapel groups where they were stationed. She also was a member and frequent leader of community ladies’ groups which always had community-service projects. Additionally, while they were stationed at West Point, NY, Betty taught Nursery School for two years. A number of her charges were later graduates of the United States Military Academy itself. She served a term as President of the Army Engineer Officers Wives Club and was otherwise often an officer of the same club and its successor, the Army Engineer Spouses Club. She loved travelling both in the United States and abroad; and, during the early years following her husband’s retirement, they were able to travel extensively to Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, often times re-visiting places they had lived and where her husband had served. She was a talented artist, using either oils or water colors, and painted beautiful scenes from places where they had lived in France and the United States. Unfortunately, the family has all too few of her paintings today. Betty was a loving and caring mother who successfully nurtured her four children to adulthood, sometimes in the prolonged absence of their father who was on an unaccompanied military assignment or away at war. Betty’s and Don’s happy marriage endured for almost 59 years, being terminated by Betty’s death after a long illness. She is survived by her husband, Colonel (USA, Ret.) Donald R. Swygert; two daughters, Susan L. Swygert of Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles, and Carol L. Swygert of Cumberland, MD; two sons, Donald R. Swygert, Jr. (Lisa) of Mooresville, NC, and John Stephen Swygert of Cumberland, MD;, four granddaughters and one grandson; a great-granddaughter and two great-grandsons; several nieces and a nephew; and a host of cousins. She was pre-deceased by her brother, John E. Moss. Demaine Funeral Home, 520 S. Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, (703) 549-0074, is managing arrangements. A memorial service will be held at the Belvoir Chapel (intersection of 12th St. and Belvoir Road), Fort Belvoir, VA on Saturday, May 17, at 2:30 p.m. A reception will follow at 4:00 p.m. at the Cedar Knoll Inn (just north of Mount Vernon and adjacent to the George Washington Memorial Parkway), 9030 Lucia Lane, Alexandria, VA. Betty will be interred at the West Point Cemetery at West Point, NY on May 30, 2014 at 1:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family recommends that donations be made to your charity of choice in Betty’s memory