The following information was taken from her Happy 100th Birthday pamphlet compiled by her daughter, Col. Isabelle J. Swartz:
"Isabelle Walker Swartz
Isabelle Josephine, fifth daughter of Crandle (sic. first name varies widely with sources) Clarenden and Flora DeLove (Fry) Walker was born in Fairfield, Iowa 19 February 1895. Her father was a banker and an importer of stock horses in Iowa, Kansas and Oklahoma. She is directly descended from John Winn, Jr. who served with distinction from Virginia in the American Revolution; and from Abraham Frye, Sr., who rendered Patriotic Service from Pennsylvania in the same Revolution, and son Abraham Frye Jr., an Ensign in the War of 1812.
She graduated from Morningside College (Sioux City, Iowa) in 1919 with majors in Biology and German.
Following her family's 1919 move to California she taught elementary school. In 1921 she married her college classmate, Charles Harlan Swartz (USMA 1920) 1st Lt, U S Army, at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Orange, California.
The first assignment for the newlywed pair was Camp Lewis near Tacoma, Washington, and their first home was the Red Shield Inn (now the Fort Lewis Military Museum). They soon moved into quarters that consisted of a converted World War I barracks. Their daughter, Isabelle Josephine was born at Camp Lewis. Their next tour was at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, where the outer decor of tar paper matched that at Camp Lewis.
Duty stations through the 1920s and 1930s included the Presidio of Monterey, CA; Fort Sill, OK; ROTC duty at the University of Utah; Fort Leonard Wood, MO; Fort Leavenworth, KS; Camp San Luis Obispo, CA; and travels to maneuver sites in Louisiana, South Carolina Tennessee and Yuma, AZ.
The family jointed others who persevered through the post World War I Army years. In 1922 Army personnel were "returned to grade" (inelegantly referred to as a "bust in rank"). While American citizens coped during the Depression, military personnel took two pay cuts - 15% each. As scanty finances permitted, Charles had proper uniforms and equipment. Isabelle made Jo's clothes and remodeled her own.
Isabelle set the pace at home: there were rules and regulations tempered with her loving indulgence. Charles enjoyed bowling and golf; Jo was a collector of regimental and battalion distinctive insignia and blazonries. After Jo retired in 1975 and actively pursued genealogy, Isabelle continued her indulgence, but was heard to remark now and then, "Jo, this USED to be the dining room table."
Bridge players considered themselves fortunate if Isabelle was their partner - she was swift and sure in her execution of the game, (having learned it in Iowa as a very young lady in a bridge-playing family). There was subdued hilarity at one post when an individual offered to teach Isabelle the intricacies of the game! Many a young bride learned the art of playing bridge through Isabelle's patience and encouragement.
During Work War II (while her husband participated in campaigns on the islands of Makin and Tarawa, New Guinea and the Philippines) Mrs. Swartz served as an American Red Cross Nurses' aide in the men's ward of the County Hospital and the Blood Bank in Dallas, TX.
Isabelle was reared in a long family of parents and sisters. During World War II each of her four sisters wrote Charles a note at least once a week and Lloyd Bruington (his brother-in-law) wrote a note each day on his old Underwood Manual typewriter in the hardware and furniture store in Pawnee, Oklahoma.
During the war years as Isabelle drove off to yet another new duty station ahead of Charles, he remarked to his fellow officers, "Well, there go all my precious possessions: my wife, my daughter, my dog, the flat silver and my car"! The wonderful toy fox terrier named "Truely" more than paid her way in companionship, warmth and protection for Isabelle.
As with all families, there were challenges, hard times and better times, separations and reunions, joys and sorrows...and always the satisfaction of serving one's country.
Follow the war years the family lived in Washington, DC; Heidelberg and Nurnberg, Garmany and enjoyed a second tour at Fort Lewis. Participation in active Army life concluded in 1957. After two years in Chicago where GEN Swartz was General Sales Manager, Bowling Division, Brunswick, Balke Collender, Tacoma became their retirement home.
Mrs. Swartz was the first Army wife to be elected President of the Pierce County Presidents' Council. Her primary objective (1962-1965) was establishment of effect child care for working mothers. In later years she affiliated with Chapter CA PEO and joined Mary Ball Chapter, National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Her DAR chapter honored her this year by the dedication of its yearbook.
Isabelle and Chalres Swartz's only child, Jo was born at Camp Lewis, sworn into the Army at Fort Lewis (during her Father's second tour of duty), and returned at Fort Lewis. Since her father's death in 1973, Isabelle and Jo have lived in Tacoma and Steilacoom. It is Isabelle who makes these past years compatible and fruitful, just as it always has been for Charles and Jo.
From the post WWI Army of horse-drawn artillery, Same Brown belts on olive drab, pinks and greens, and bugle called sounding across the post... to the high tech world of jets, space exploration, computers and e-mail communication, Isabelle Walker Swartz has shared her rich and productive life with her family as well as those in Army and civilian life. Today there are a lot of memories of good and loyal friends from years gone by... and recent friends who are equally valued. Happy 100th Birthday."
The following information was taken from her Happy 100th Birthday pamphlet compiled by her daughter, Col. Isabelle J. Swartz:
"Isabelle Walker Swartz
Isabelle Josephine, fifth daughter of Crandle (sic. first name varies widely with sources) Clarenden and Flora DeLove (Fry) Walker was born in Fairfield, Iowa 19 February 1895. Her father was a banker and an importer of stock horses in Iowa, Kansas and Oklahoma. She is directly descended from John Winn, Jr. who served with distinction from Virginia in the American Revolution; and from Abraham Frye, Sr., who rendered Patriotic Service from Pennsylvania in the same Revolution, and son Abraham Frye Jr., an Ensign in the War of 1812.
She graduated from Morningside College (Sioux City, Iowa) in 1919 with majors in Biology and German.
Following her family's 1919 move to California she taught elementary school. In 1921 she married her college classmate, Charles Harlan Swartz (USMA 1920) 1st Lt, U S Army, at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Orange, California.
The first assignment for the newlywed pair was Camp Lewis near Tacoma, Washington, and their first home was the Red Shield Inn (now the Fort Lewis Military Museum). They soon moved into quarters that consisted of a converted World War I barracks. Their daughter, Isabelle Josephine was born at Camp Lewis. Their next tour was at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, where the outer decor of tar paper matched that at Camp Lewis.
Duty stations through the 1920s and 1930s included the Presidio of Monterey, CA; Fort Sill, OK; ROTC duty at the University of Utah; Fort Leonard Wood, MO; Fort Leavenworth, KS; Camp San Luis Obispo, CA; and travels to maneuver sites in Louisiana, South Carolina Tennessee and Yuma, AZ.
The family jointed others who persevered through the post World War I Army years. In 1922 Army personnel were "returned to grade" (inelegantly referred to as a "bust in rank"). While American citizens coped during the Depression, military personnel took two pay cuts - 15% each. As scanty finances permitted, Charles had proper uniforms and equipment. Isabelle made Jo's clothes and remodeled her own.
Isabelle set the pace at home: there were rules and regulations tempered with her loving indulgence. Charles enjoyed bowling and golf; Jo was a collector of regimental and battalion distinctive insignia and blazonries. After Jo retired in 1975 and actively pursued genealogy, Isabelle continued her indulgence, but was heard to remark now and then, "Jo, this USED to be the dining room table."
Bridge players considered themselves fortunate if Isabelle was their partner - she was swift and sure in her execution of the game, (having learned it in Iowa as a very young lady in a bridge-playing family). There was subdued hilarity at one post when an individual offered to teach Isabelle the intricacies of the game! Many a young bride learned the art of playing bridge through Isabelle's patience and encouragement.
During Work War II (while her husband participated in campaigns on the islands of Makin and Tarawa, New Guinea and the Philippines) Mrs. Swartz served as an American Red Cross Nurses' aide in the men's ward of the County Hospital and the Blood Bank in Dallas, TX.
Isabelle was reared in a long family of parents and sisters. During World War II each of her four sisters wrote Charles a note at least once a week and Lloyd Bruington (his brother-in-law) wrote a note each day on his old Underwood Manual typewriter in the hardware and furniture store in Pawnee, Oklahoma.
During the war years as Isabelle drove off to yet another new duty station ahead of Charles, he remarked to his fellow officers, "Well, there go all my precious possessions: my wife, my daughter, my dog, the flat silver and my car"! The wonderful toy fox terrier named "Truely" more than paid her way in companionship, warmth and protection for Isabelle.
As with all families, there were challenges, hard times and better times, separations and reunions, joys and sorrows...and always the satisfaction of serving one's country.
Follow the war years the family lived in Washington, DC; Heidelberg and Nurnberg, Garmany and enjoyed a second tour at Fort Lewis. Participation in active Army life concluded in 1957. After two years in Chicago where GEN Swartz was General Sales Manager, Bowling Division, Brunswick, Balke Collender, Tacoma became their retirement home.
Mrs. Swartz was the first Army wife to be elected President of the Pierce County Presidents' Council. Her primary objective (1962-1965) was establishment of effect child care for working mothers. In later years she affiliated with Chapter CA PEO and joined Mary Ball Chapter, National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Her DAR chapter honored her this year by the dedication of its yearbook.
Isabelle and Chalres Swartz's only child, Jo was born at Camp Lewis, sworn into the Army at Fort Lewis (during her Father's second tour of duty), and returned at Fort Lewis. Since her father's death in 1973, Isabelle and Jo have lived in Tacoma and Steilacoom. It is Isabelle who makes these past years compatible and fruitful, just as it always has been for Charles and Jo.
From the post WWI Army of horse-drawn artillery, Same Brown belts on olive drab, pinks and greens, and bugle called sounding across the post... to the high tech world of jets, space exploration, computers and e-mail communication, Isabelle Walker Swartz has shared her rich and productive life with her family as well as those in Army and civilian life. Today there are a lot of memories of good and loyal friends from years gone by... and recent friends who are equally valued. Happy 100th Birthday."
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