Ebilene Minor Swinney completed her earthly journey on Friday, March 20, 2020 at the age of 87 and was welcomed into the loving arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Ebbie was born on October 16, 1932 in Atkins, Arkansas to George and Vera Minor. They moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming during World War II where she lived until meeting the love of her life, Raymond V. Swinney, at the local roller-skating rink. Ray literally “fell for her” while getting her attention. They married on November 1, 1949 at The Little Chapel Around the Corner in Las Vegas, Nevada and began a 52-year marriage and love affair which took them to military assignments in California, Oregon, Texas, Wyoming, Ramstein AFB West Germany, and New Mexico before settling down in Universal City, Texas. Ebbie was a wonderful Air Force wife and mother as she set up new homes and supported her family with frequent military moves. Nearly dying at age 17 during her first childbirth, she was blessed with three children, Johnny Ray, Steven Scott, and Timothy George. She dedicated her life to her husband and children and helped support the family as an Avon Lady in the 1960s. A devoted Christian, Ebbie was active in the Randolph AFB Chapel Choir and Protestant Women of the Chapel where she visited wounded service members from the Vietnam War. Ebbie loved to travel the United States and the world with her family and was recognized by the San Antonio Light newspaper for her extended motorcycle trips to Canada on the back of a Honda Goldwing motorcycle. Ebbie was an accomplished piano player and loved to sing and play gospel music with her parents and sister. Ebbie was widowed in 2001 and spent the rest of her life with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends. She was a loving and caring person who always thought of others.
Ebbie was preceded in death by her parents, George E. and Vera Mae (Staggs) Minor; sister, Velda Minor Harris; husband, MSgt (Ret) Raymond V. Swinney; grandchildren: Robert, Benjamin and Sarah Raylene Swinney. She is survived by her sons: Johnny R. Swinney and wife, Julia; Steven S. Swinney; Timothy G. Swinney and wife, Lorraine. Grandchildren: Thomas and Timothy S. Swinney, Brian Swinney (Erin), Lisa Barker (Reid), Laura Swinney, Kyle Swinney (Mary), and Lauren Sigmon (Eric); Great Grandchildren: Adalyn, Kailyn and Nolan Swinney, McKenzie Sigmon, Jackson and Payton Swinney, Frank and Blaise Barker, numerous nephews and nieces.
The family is grateful for the wonderful love and care provided to her by Eden Hill Heritage Memory Gardens, Garden Ridge Assisted Living, Hope Hospice and Heart of Texas Hospice. Services are under the direction of Schertz Funeral Home. She was interred at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery, where she was laid to rest with her beloved husband.
A Celebration of Life was held at 10:00am on Tuesday, June 16, 2020 at First Baptist Church of Universal City.
Her life is well described in Proverbs 31: 10 – 31, “The Wife of Noble Character”
Steve Swinney, RHS CLASS OF 1970
