Carolyne Swift

 Carolyne (Carol) Swift passed away at the age of 84 on February 14, 2022.  She was born in Dallas, Texas to Burt and Billie Rawlinson on May 22, 1937.  During World War II, her father re-enlisted and was assigned to in his former Marine regiment in Dallas which was sent to Southern California.  After a few months he wrote home saying he was to remain there and the family should join him in San Diego. 

The family went to California, but he had been sent overseas prior to their arrival.  They did not see him again until after the war.  After his return, the family settled on a small farm near Valley Center, California.  Carol often rode her horse to school and led a farm girl’s life until the family moved to Fallbrook, California when she started high school. 

Over time, her parents owned and operated 3 small restaurants in the area and her father became the assistant fire chief.  Carol and her sister helped out in one of the restaurants while in high school.  After graduating from high school, a family friend set Carol up on a blind date with her nephew, who was in the Navy and stationed nearby.  The friend told Carol that her nephew had a best friend that needed a date as well.  Carol’s best friend said she would go out with the nephew’s friend on the double date.   

 After the date, the girls decided that they would continue dating the boys, but that they should trade since the original arrangement had been a mismatch.  Carol and the nephew’s best friend (Jack) were married on May 11, 1956 and were together until his passing in 2016.   Carol and Jack’s best friends from that original double date also married and remained together until the death of Jack’s friend.

Carol and Jack raised 4 children in homes in California and Colorado.  Carol was a homemaker and worked as a clerk and several department stores until she returned to school in 1975 and became a nurse.  She worked in hospitals, nursing homes, and prison facilities in the Pueblo and Canon City areas of Colorado until retiring from the Colorado Penitentiary system.

Carol enjoyed camping, crafts, traveling, and family gatherings.  Carol and Jack spent many years in retirement as full time RVers.  They traveled throughout the western U.S. and were active in various RVing organizations with Carol acting as a first aid and wellness coordinator at several gatherings and conventions.

Carol was proceeded in death by her parents, her husband Jack, daughter-in-law Debbie, brother-in-law Joe, and sisters-in-law Marilyn, Dorothy, and Lorraine.  She is survived by her son John and his wife Kathy, daughter Linda and her husband Bill, son Mike, and daughter Adele and her husband Mark. She is also survived by her grandchildren Josh and his wife Sasha, Jennifer and her husband Dan, and Mackie, along with great grandchildren Toby, Emilia, and Felicity, her sister Bobbie, brothers-in-law Bob and Virgil, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Her ashes will be interned with her husband Jack at the Pikes Peak National Cemetery in Colorado Springs, Colorado on June 3, 2022 during a private family gathering.  A pot-luck memorial will be held for anybody who would like to attend at Mtn View Park in Canon City, CO on June 4, 2022 at noon.

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