Oleta (McMillion) Baber-Swaney

Oleta Baber-Swaney

KINGSVILLE- Oleta P. Baber-Swaney, 99, who was a longtime Jefferson and Kingsville resident, passed very peacefully on Mother’s Day, May 8, 2022, at the Villa-at-the-Lake in Conneaut.

She was born in Greenbrier Co., West Virginia on March 27, 1923, the daughter of Wilton and Gola (Simmons) McMillion.

Oleta completed her bachelor’s degree in Education at West Virginia Wesleyan University.  She was an elementary school teacher for 32 years before her retirement in 1984.  Oleta taught in West Virginia for 3 years, in Pierpont for a year, and then spent her remaining 28 years as an elementary school teacher for the Jefferson Area Local Schools.

Oleta met James H. Baber before his final deployment in WWII and was blessed to marry him on October 16, 1946. Jim sadly passed away in 1971 after 25 years of marriage. She was married again eight years later, on June 16, 1979, to Joel E. Swaney, with whom she enjoyed 31 years of marriage before his passing in 2010.

Oleta was a member of Jefferson United Methodist Church, the Ashtabula County Retired Teachers Association, O.E.A., and N.E.A.  She was the 2011 Ashtabula County Senior Citizen of the Year, and spent a great deal of time volunteering and supporting the Kingsville Public Library. 

Oleta had many interests: she was a licensed pilot who enjoyed flying whenever she could; she was an avid traveler who visited Alaska several times; and she also enjoyed gardening and spending quality time with her loving family.

Oleta is survived by her loving children: Stephen Baber, Vivian Neiswander, and Jerry Baber; her stepchildren, whom she loved as her own: Dennis, Michael, Sarah, James, John and Mary; her grandchildren: Derek, Laura, Tyson, Isabelle, Michael, Isis, and Rowan; her great-grandchildren: James and Alex; 5 step grandchildren and 12 step great-grandchildren. 

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, James Baber and Joel Swaney; her son, David Baber; and her siblings, Eileen Meredith, Harold McMillion, Hylton McMillion, Hymon McMillion and Kathleen Neal.

Funeral services will be held at Fleming-Billman Funeral Home, 49 W. Jefferson Street, Jefferson, Ohio; calling hours will be Friday from 6:00-8:00 and the funeral will be Saturday at 11:00.  Burial will follow in Greenlawn Memory Gardens.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Joel and Oleta Swaney Educational Enrichment Fund at the Kingsville Public Library, 6006 Academy Street/PO Box 57, Kingsville, Ohio 44048  

Online obituary and a place to share a story or leave a condolence at www.fleming-billman.com

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