Barbara Ann Gantz Hemphill Swift Gilmer 1926-2020

Barbara Ann Gantz Hemphill
Swift Gilmer, 93, formerly of
Hollow Rock, passed away
on March 17, in Bellevue,
Wash.
At her request, there will be
no services. Barbara will be
cremated by the Neptune
Society, and her ashes passed
to her older son.
Barbara was born in
Fairbury, Ill. to Howard
Stanley and Lucretia
(Colgrove) Gantz on Dec. 4,

1926. She graduated from
      Methodist Hospital in
      Indianapolis, Ind., with her
      degree in nursing. She
      married Victor S. Hemphill
      in California; they divorced
      in 1969. She worked as a
      Registered Nurse for over 40
      years at hospitals in
      Louisiana, Massachusetts, California, Washington state,
      and Tennessee. Later in life,
      she was married to Frank J.
      Swift, who after many years
      of marriage preceded her in
      death in 2002. As a widow,
      she then married James C.
      Gilmer, whom she’d known
      for many years; they lived
      happily until Jim passed
      away in 2008. She was
      involved in several social
      activities in Tennessee,
      including Second Sunday and
      Veterans of Foreign Wars
      Auxiliary. She was a
      member of Hebron United
      Methodist Church.
      She spent much of her life
      helping people in several
      ways: as a nurse, as a
      founding member of Second
      Sunday and even by pulling

cars out of ditches
with her tractor. She loved
all things nature including
animals, gardening, the
outdoors! She will always
be known as a faithful friend
and servant of God.
Barbara was preceded in
death by each of her
husbands: Vic, Frank, and
Jim, and her siblings Howard
Stanley Gantz, Jr. and
Dorothy Leah Charles.
She is survived by her two
sons, Victor Stephen
Hemphill, Jr., of Redmond,
Wash. and John Howard
Hemphill, of Goldsboro,
N.C., along with 2
granddaughters, 5 step-
grandchildren, and 18 great-
grandchildren.
Memorials may be given to a
local chapter of the VFW
Auxiliary.
Barbara’s family wishes to
extend our sincere thanks to
Providence ElderPlace who
provided care for her, to Tina
Elecfi and the staff of Hope
Adult Family Home in
Bellevue, Wash., where
Barbara spent her final days,
and to members of Creekside
Covenant Church in
Redmond, Wash., who were
friends to the end.