Lois J. Schwartz

On November 9, 2010 Lois Fanning Barry Schwartz joined her beloved husband, William Robert Schwartz whom had passed away on October 6, 2007. They are survived by 7 children, Robert Barry (Faye),

Colleen Barry-Johnson (Paul), Linda Barry-Gilkey (Gary), Cheryl Schwartz-Lane (Mark), Kurtis Barry (Donna), Mark Schwartz (Susan) and Jeanell Schwartz-Deleon, 12 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. Lois is also survived by her brother Richard Fanning.

William (Bill) was born on August 27, 1937 to William & Priscilla Schwartz in Denver, Co. He was their only child and they loved him dearly. Bill grew up with his parents and his maternal grandmother in the Washington Park neighborhood. He went to Steele Elementary, Byers Jr. High and graduated from South High School in 1956. While in high school, Bill worked as a sweeper boy at Steele Elementary. He joined the Cub Scouts and went on to become an Eagle Scout. He then became a teen counselor at Camp Tahosa Boy Scout Camp, a job he truly enjoyed. Bill loved the outdoors and loved hiking, fishing and traveling with his parents. After graduation from high school, he went to drafting school. From there he went to work for Rodgers Publishing in 1957, which was located on Bannock St near Hampden Ave. He worked as a Technical Draftsman. In 1960 Bill joined the Army for 2 years at the request of Uncle Sam. He spent most of his 2 year tour of duty in Dugway, Utah, so he was able to come home often. After Bill’s military service, Rodgers Publishing asked him to come back and work for them in 1962. This is where he met Carol Watson who was a secretary at Rodgers Publishing. They were married in January of 1963 at her home in Denver. They bought a home in the Ruby Hill neighborhood for the family of three, the two of them, and Cheryl, Carol’s daughter from a previous marriage. Soon after this, Bill adopted Cheryl. In October of 1963 they had a son, Mark. The house got a little small for the four of them, so they moved to a new home by Centennial Race Track. In 1965 Rodgers Publishing was sold to Cahners Publishing and in came the computer age. The employees from Rodgers were asked to take a test to see if they were Computer Programming material. Bill was on of the 5 that were asked to the position as computer programmer for Cahners Publishing. Bill was just made for this job and this job was made for Bill. In 1966 a daughter, Jeanell, was added to the Schwartz family. In 1972 Bill and Carol divorced and Bill received custody of Mark, as Carol received custody of Cheryl and Jeanell.

Lois was born on December 27, 1930 to Richard and Irene Fanning in Denver, Co. Lois grew up in a loving home with her parents, her brother Richard, her paternal grandmother and her cousin Evelyn. Lois also went to Sherman Elementary, Byers Jr. High and graduated from South High School in 1949. She attended Barnes Business School where she met Robert Barry. They were married in February of 1951. In December of 1951 they had a son, Robert and Lois became a stay at home mom. In February of 1954 they had a daughter, Colleen and in May of 1955, added another daughter, Linda. By this time the one bedroom attic apartment was overflowing and they bought a home in a new area of Denver called Athmar. In 1959, Robert’s company transferred him to Midland, TX, and the Barry family made the move. In 1960, the family moved back to the house in the Athmar Neighborhood, which they had rented out while in Texas. In June of 1963 another son, Kurtis was added to the family. Soon after this, Lois and Robert were divorced and her children became her life. Lois went back to work in 1966, first with a Temp Agency and then hired by Cahners Publishing Company soon after.

Even though both Bill and Lois had attended the same Junior and Senior High School, Lois was 7 years older than Bill, so they had never met. After Bill’s divorce in 1972 while working at Cahners they would see each other in the hallways and started working on several projects together. There was an attraction, but Bill did nothing about it. So after a while, Lois decided in 1978 to take the bull by the horns and asked Bill out. Right away he said “yes”! Lois later asked him why he had not asked her out, and he said that he thought she was married, and he would never get into a situation like that. In June of 1979 Lois and Bill were married in the home they had purchased in Cherry Creek Vista with 6 of their 7 children present along with 2 grandchildren. Bill and Lois worked, traveled, hiked and loved their home together. They were the “Best of Friends”. They celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with a garden party at their home with about 80 of their family and friends in June of 2004. In 2005, the first signs of cancer showed up in Bill and after a long battle with the disease, Bill passed away on October 6, 2007.

In May of 2008 Lois sold their home and moved to her new home at Aspen Terrace in the Windcrest Retirement Community in Highlands Ranch, Co. Her condo was on the top floor with a balcony where she enjoyed a beautiful view of the mountains that she loved so much. The friend she made there were invaluable to her. She loved to laugh and talk with her new “Old Friends” as she called them. They made her life a joy.

Lois was cremated and her ashes were joined with Bill’s. In the Spring of 2011, their combined ashes will be scattered at Mount Lindo Cemetery overlooking their beloved, Denver, mountains and blue skies of Colorado. All friend and family will be invited in this celebration of the lives of Bill and Lois Schwartz.