Stephen T. Swenson

Stephen T. Swenson of Houston died on June 20, 2016, at the age of 71. He was born January 5, 1945, in Austin, Texas, the son of Ed and Kathleen Swenson. Blessed with a wonderful memory, he always excelled academically. He enjoyed sports, especially baseball and golf, and he continued to be interested in sports even when he could no longer personally participate. He graduated from Lamar High School in 1963. He attended the California Institute of Technology and graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Rice University with a B.A. in 1967 and a Master of Chemical Engineering in 1968. He worked for Exxon Chemical in Baytown for several years before returning to graduate school and receiving an MBA from Stanford in 1973, graduating in the top 5% of the class. On June 11, 1973, while vacationing in Hawaii, he sustained a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the chest down. He returned to Exxon Chemical from 1974 until 1980 when he was further disabled by a severe head injury and was unable to continue working. Sustained by his Christian faith and the wonderful support of family, friends, and many kind and caring doctors and nurses, he lived his life with grace, dignity, and a great sense of humor.

He married Elaine Smith on August 12, 1967. They enjoyed a wonderful marriage as they depended on God for the challenges they would face. They were long time members of Baker Road Baptist Church in Baytown where Steve served as a deacon and children’s Sunday School teacher. After moving to Houston in 2010, they became members of Tallowood Baptist Church-a wonderful source of love and encouragement.

Steve is survived by his wife, Elaine, his sister, Julibeth Parrish and her husband, Mike, his sisters-in-law Sarah Bell and Lisa Pierson and her husband, Bill, and his nieces and nephews, Ted Parrish, John Bell and his wife, Nikki, Cynthia Smith and her husband, Brian, Sarah Elaine Pierson, and Katherine Wade and her husband, Vincent. He is survived also by three great-nephews and one great-niece, Hank Smith, Ruskin Bell, Edith Bell, and Finn Smith.

The family would like to express thanks to his many caregivers over the years, a number of whom have become dear friends. Corina Toney and Janice Traylor were both with Steve and Elaine for over 10 years. Others include Hillary Harris, Jessica Crumedy, Ida Glover, and others from Rod Hardman’s Christian Companion Senior Care, most recently Jerica, Shaymon, Rhonda, and Erica.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, July 12, 2016, at 11 AM at Tallowood Baptist Church, 555 Tallowood, Houston, Texas 77024. A reception at the church will follow.

Memorials may be directed to the Tallowood Baptist Church for the Tallowood Foundation; Star of Hope Mission, 6897 Ardmore St., Houston, Texas, 77054, or the charity of your choice.