Mr. Swinburne

I just got back from the funeral for Mr. Swinburne. From the number of people in attendance from the two counties, you can tell he had a lot of influence on a lot of people. He is certainly someone you can call a very nice, humble man.
I have memories of Mr. Swinburne from the time I was very little. According to his son, they moved to Huntington in 1959, so I am sure he was teaching at North Emery High School when dad was teaching there. I remember the Swinburne family when the high school teachers had a picnic at Old Folks Flat the day before school started. This was an annual tradition for the teachers to bring their families to the Flat and spend the day together. I remember playing with Doug and Ted Swinburne, David and Scott Kinder, Natalie and Nathan Johansen, and Peggy Jorgensen. Natalie, Peggy, and I would jump around on the logs and rocks bordering the firepit, dodging David and Ted as they tried to push us off. I remember Mr. Swinburne and Dad coming out of the faculty room at the beginning of the day just after they win the ping-pong game against Mr. Bill and Mr. Peacock. They were ready to start teaching.
Mr. Swinburne was also the principal who called Garth one day and offered him the job as custodian at the high school. He was always been a great teacher and example.
He and Lurene raised two great boys, along with their daughter, Kim. Doug and Ted were also gentlemen, very nice looking boys and very good students. I remember when I was in high school Dad would say we were going to the Swinburns to play ping-pong in the evenings. We would go there and I would never get to play ping-pong because I was in the kitchen sitting at the table with Mr. Swinburne helping me learn my math. I never caught on that we were going there for my private tutoring sessions! I wonder if Mr. Swinburne ever resented the fact that he didn't get to play, either! What a great guy, to give up his evening for me sake. That was the kind of guy he was.
Both Doug and Ted are now pastors in their church. As Doug said "We lived in a small town that was dominated by Mormons, but they never dominated us. They respected us and we respected them and we loved each other." Both boys spoke of the love they have for the parents and communities where they grew up and the church friends they had in Price. It was very interesting to listen to their experiences in church, and how they were raised in their faith. They believe in the rejoicing of their father with his daughter Kim who died at the age of 19, twenty-five years ago. What a happy reunion they just be having.
Mr. Swinburne was very religious, reading his scriptures and praying daily. He is a great example of a man who loved and lived his religion. He was a wonderful teacher, both in school and in church. He is loved by many and admired by all. As I talked with his wife this morning, she mentioned his love for our family, my mom and dad and sisters, as well as our own children. They are both wonderful people and we really admire both Mr. and Mrs. Swinburne. I pray the family will be comforted during this time of separation.