Jacquelyn S. Swinney

Jacquelyn “Jackie” Sue Korff was born on October 21, 1940, in Buffalo, New York, to Raymond Maxwell Korff and Fern Thelma Coburn. At the age of nine, Jackie and her family moved to Tonawanda, New York. In 1956, Jackie and her sister Darlene relocated with their mother to Arcadia, California, following their father’s departure. Jackie attended Arcadia High School and graduated in 1958.

In 1959, Jackie married Frank Merritt II and welcomed their first child, Kenneth. The family moved to Pensacola, Florida, where Frank was stationed with the Air Force, and their second child, Dianne, was born in 1961 in Niceville, Florida. Their third child, Frank, was born in 1962. After Frank’s discharge from the Air Force, the family returned to Southern California, where their fourth child, Christine, was born in 1964 in Los Angeles. Jackie and Frank divorced in 1968.

Jackie later met Dick Swinney at the Glendora Nazarene Church, where they married on August 20, 1976, with Reverend Bob Sporleder officiating. At the time, Jackie’s 4 children ranged in age from 12 to 17. Jackie had a love for learning and achieved numerous academic milestones. She graduated with honors from Citrus Community College in Glendora with an A.S. degree in Library Science in 1974. She went on to earn a B.A. in English in 1976 and an M.S.L.S. in Library Science in 1978 from California State University, Fullerton. She later received a Master of Arts in Religion from Azusa Pacific University in 1999.

Jackie dedicated her professional life to helping others grow through education and faith. From 1978 to 1981, she worked as the full-time librarian at Damien High School in La Verne, California, and as a part-time reference librarian at Citrus Community College Library from 1979 to 1982. Jackie then worked as a library technician at Azusa High School from 1982 to 1985. In 1988, she became a full-time reference librarian at Azusa Pacific University, also teaching children’s literature in the Department of English and Communications from 1989 to 1990.

Jackie served as a fundraiser for the annual Christmas Gift Program for the Children of the Shepherd ministry in Hollywood for many years. She became a member of the Serrano Chapter of the National Society of the daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in Glendora in October 2013, serving as chaplain from 2014 to 2018.

Jackie was ordained as a deacon in the Church of the Nazarene in June 2005 and served as a pastor of spiritual care at Glendora Community Church from 2005 to 2008. She volunteered as a chaplain at Foothill Presbyterian Hospital from 2011 to 2016.

Jackie is survived by her children: Kenneth (Youie), Dianne, Frank, and Christine (Wes); her sister Darlene; 10 grandchildren: Vanessa Smith, Corrina Alkondon, Chase Merritt, Cody Clarke, Brandon Merritt, Ellie Quintana, Ben DeVries, Silas DeVries, Cory Wilson, and Kacy Wilson-Sullivan; and 12 great-grandchildren: David Wilson, Emma Wilson, Keilani Farinacci, Keira Smith, Aksel Alkondon, Amias Alkondon, Asher Alkondon, Alisa Alkondon, Tanner DeVries, Claire DeVries, Kade Quintana, and Jay Quintana. She also leaves her nephews Joey Aguilar and Andy Aguilar.

Jackie valiantly battled Parkinson’s disease after her diagnosis in 2014, continuing to travel and spend time with her family for as long as she was able. In May of 2025, she entered hospice care at home and, on May 22, 2025, passed away surrounded by her family.

A funeral service will be held on June 14 at 2 P.M. at Glendora Community Church, with a light meal to follow. The service will be closed casket. A graveside service will take place on June 16 at 2 P.M. at Oakdale Cemetery in Glendora.

Her life was a testimony to faith, community service, and love of family. She will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by all who knew her.