Jacqulyn Schwadron

On 29 Aug 2016, the amazingly strong, beautiful, and loving spirit of Jacqulyn (Jackie) Smith Schwadron, age 82, was carried by angels to the Kingdom of Heaven to reside with God, family, and friends for all eternity. She was surrounded by family and visited by dear friends during her last days. The eldest of 3 sisters, Jackie was born at home on 15 Oct 1933 to sharecropper parents in Glennville, GA. From very humble origins, she developed core values that laid an unshakable foundation. Jackie loved God and family, treasured her friends, and led an exemplary life of selfless love and devotion, always placing the needs and desires of others before her own. She led by example and we should all strive to emulate the high standards that she set and lived by every day of her life. Despite having the barest essentials of life during childhood, she had a close-nit, loving family. She and her sisters literally wore cloth sack clothes as small children. While still very young, they worked in the fields for as little as $0.50 - $1 per day, but this extra money meant they could afford fruits with meals, limited additional clothing, and material for her mother to sew their school dresses. As a hard working, intelligent student she was able to combine her academics with work (and even some athletics in school, by playing on the girl’s basketball team). She graduated early with her HS degree after her junior year and went to work at the nearby Army Post – Ft. Stewart. She quickly used her additional income to purchase furniture and a gas stove for her mother, rather than spend it on herself – one of innumerable selfless acts during her life. She soon moved to Savannah, GA, where she worked as an operator for Bell Telephone. There she met a young enlisted Air Force man, Howard Schwadron, who was already a veteran of the Korean War, where he was a tail gunner. She saw past his boyish charm and dashing looks, finding he had the same passion for life and the drive to excel that she already had of her own. They fell in love, married, and had 2 children, Allan and Susan, 13 months apart. She became an officer’s wife after Howard graduated from OCS and she spent the next 15+ years raising her children, while frequently relocating the family throughout the US (Georgia, Florida, Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, California, and Alaska) and overseas (Japan and Okinawa). When her children were older she returned to work as an operator in Omaha and later retired as an instructor operator in Orlando. Howard and Jackie were happily married for 37 years until Howard’s premature death in 1990. After Howard’s death, she elected to move from Orlando to Dothan, AL and then more recently to Auburn, AL, to be near her son, Allan, and his wife, Amy, and their children, Isabel, Alexia, and Sam. Jackie’s daughter, Susan, and her husband, David (Dave) George, moved to near Dothan, AL, as well. Then, after Dave’s death, Sue moved to Auburn to spend time with her Mom and was very instrumental in her mother’s care at the end. Jackie was preceded in death by her husband, Maj. Howard Schwadron, USAF Ret.; her parents, Coy and Etta (Wilson) Smith; her middle sister, Babs Dowdy; a nephew, Daniel Knight; a son-in-law, David George; a number of aunts/uncles/cousins; and 4 brother-in-laws. She is survived by her daughter, Susan S. Gurney George; her son, Dr. Allan Schwadron, MD (Amy Gibson); her baby sister, Kathryn “Kat” Knight; her grandchildren – Rachel Pate, Kristin Arak, Isabel Schwadron, Alexia Schwadron, Sam Schwadron and Esme Anderson; her four great-grandchildren, Ashley & Jordan, Ethan & Ava; two close aunts, Louise Wilson and Betty Grice; a number of cousins, nephews, nieces, grandnieces, and grandnephews; and two sister-in-laws. The family is greatly appreciative of the care she received at the EAMC Cancer Center in Opelika, AL – by Dr. Linda Farmer, Dr. John Cabelka, and their staff, and primary care by Dr. John Abrams. We are especially grateful for her nurse, Dana, and her aid, Ruby, with the Hospice Advantage Program. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider charitable donations in her name to: The EAMC Cancer Center Campaign Fund, The American Cancer Society, The American Heart Association, or any other charitable organization you deem to be a fitting memorial for her. We choose not to mourn the loss of this truly beautiful woman and, instead, will celebrate her life!! There will be a graveside service beginning at 3:00 PM (EST) on Tuesday, 6 Sep 2016, at the Glen Haven Memorial Park - 2300 Temple Drive, Winter Park, FL, 32789.