Carl M. Swenson

Carl M Swenson, Jr. passed away February 1, 2013. He was a native of Arizona, born in Avondale in 1929 and lived in Arizona his entire life. He follows his wife of 64 years, Margaret, who passed away in April, a brother Marvin, and sisters Marie and Emmaline. Carl is survived by daughters Sharon Hopper, Linda Perham and Jennie Sumrall, 7 grandchildren, and 7 great grandchildren. He is also survived by sisters Eleanor Grandy, Rose Brown and June McNeil. Carl and June were raised by their Norwegian father and older brother and sisters due to the death of their mother when he was two. He worked for the telephone company for 42 years in many capacities, meeting many lifelong friends before retiring as the Pioneer Administrator in 1990. He was best known for bringing beep baseball for the blind to Arizona and for overseeing fundraising and many charitable events for the Telephone Pioneer volunteers for Arizona, New Mexico, and El Paso County Texas, including the actual building of the first barrier free park in the nation, the Telephone Pioneers Park, dedicated and turned over to the City of Phoenix in January 1988. Following retirement, he served as a volunteer for the Arizona Braille and Talking Book Library for 20 years. Flowers can be sent to the mortuary or donations can be sent to the Friends of the Arizona Braille and Talking Book Library, 1030 North 32nd Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85008. Services will be held on Friday, February 8th at 1 pm at Greenwood Memory Lawn Mortuary Chapel, 719 North 27th Aveune, Phoenix, Arizona.