Claudia Velma [Swinney] Smith

Claudia Velma [Swinney] Smith

Funeral services for Claudia Velma Smith, 86, of Ninnekah, Okla., are pending with Ferguson Funeral Home.

Claudia Velma Smith was born Jan. 12, 1918, and died on Monday, Aug. 30, 2004, at her home in Ninnekah.

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Claudia Velma [Swinney] Smith

Graveside services for Claudia Velma Smith, 86, of Ninnekah, will be held Wednesday, September 1, 2004, at 10:30 a.m. in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Chickasha, with Joel Hilliker officiating.

Claudia Velma Smith was born January 2, 1918, in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, the daughter of Claude Swinney and Sara Lucinda Taylor Swinney, and died Monday, August 30, 2004, at her home in Ninnekah.

Claudia grew up in Pauls Valley, moving to Chickasha at age 16.

She married Wesley B. Smith on October 14, 1936, in Lawton, Oklahoma. They lived in Wichita, Kansas, Mid West City, Oklahoma, and in 1947 they returned to Ninnekah, where she helped her husband run the family farm for over 30 years.

Claudia was employed with Beechcraft during WWII. She was also employed with Montgomery Ward in Chickasha as a sales clerk for 18 years.

Claudia was a member of the Philadelphia Church of God in Edmond, Oklahoma.

She enjoyed working in her garden and had been a member of several square dance clubs in the area.

Claudia was preceded in death by both parents and three brothers: Clarence Swinney, Victor Swinney, and Bob Swinney.

She is survived by her husband, Wesley Smith, of the home; daughter, Sylvia Caruthers, of Verden, Oklahoma; one grandson, Mike Caruthers, of Norman, Oklahoma; two granddaughters: Marcia Stidham, of Chickasha, Oklahoma, Debra Halfast, of Houston, Texas; two great grandsons: Chris and Kyle Halfast, of Houston, Texas; one sister, Sara Swyden, of Downey, California; three brothers: Charles Swinney, of Manchester, Tennessee, Roy Swinney, of Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, and Jack Swinney, of Watonga, Oklahoma.

Services are under the direction of Ferguson Funeral Home.