Florence M. Schwyn, 98, passed away peacefully in the early morning of
September 25th, 2020 at her home.
Florence’s full, eventful life started on May 15, 1922 in London, England
to the late John and Emily (Ward) Cleverly. She was the middle of five
children (Alice Roberts, Winefred Moore, Edward Cleverly, and Leslie
Cleverly) all of which preceded her in death. The family moved to Slough,
England where she dedicated six years of service to World War II, working
in a laboratory, watching the night sky for German planes, and
entertaining troops as part of a tap dance group. She lived through the
blackouts, rationing, and air raids of WWII, sat in a spitfire on an air
force base and even dodged bullets from an enemy aircraft one evening
walking home. She recalled these memories fondly as an adventure that
shaped her future.
A night out with friends changed her life when she met Roland A. Schwyn,
an American USAAF private. It was love at first sight. They married in
Slough, England in 1944 and welcomed their first child the next year. She
and their one year-old son traveled to America in 1946 with other war
brides on the Queen Mary, where the family settled in Cygnet, OH. They
went on to have two more children. Florence cared for her family and
traveled with her husband until his passing in 1979.
Florence took over her husband’s positions as a director of the Suburban
Natural Gas company and served on the Wayne Library Board. She loved
birds, collecting tea pots, history, and working with family members to
move their lives forward in a constructive manner.
As a devoted grandmother she gave a lifetime of fun and happy memories to
each of her grandchildren. Selfless, she always put others first. No one
ever had a bad thing to say about her. A marvelous storyteller who loved
people, even strangers commented that she was a joy to talk to and know.
She was the glue that held the family together and will be dearly missed.
Florence leaves behind many in the USA and England who love her. Three
children: Roland J. Schwyn, Christina (Mike) Wallace, Carla (David)
Sanderson; four grandchildren: Loren, Rachel (Erick) Donley, Jeremy
Wallace, and Jessica (Lauren) Sanderson; four great-grandchildren: Michael
and Katherine, Carlie Sanderson, and Charlotte Donley; nieces Pamela
Pritchard, Linda Tomlinson, and Elaine Gay, many great nieces and nephews,
and her dear friend and neighbor Betty (Rick) Lawrence.
Friends and family can pay their respects at a visitation Monday, Sept.
28th from 4-7pm at SMITH-CRATES FUNERAL HOME in North Baltimore, OH. A
funeral mass will follow Tuesday, Sept. 29th at 11am at Holy Family
Catholic Church, North Baltimore, OH with a graveside committal to follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Holy Family Catholic
Church in North Baltimore, OH and an honorable mention to the fine nurses
and staff at Ohio Living Home Health and Hospice. Online condolences may
be expressed at www.smithcrates.com.
