Dr. George Franklin Swenson, was born on Aug. 23, 1917, and was called home Aug. 2, 1999.
He said of himself, "I think I'm a good man, but not a great one. I'm pleased to be known as a righteous man." He said, "My greatest joy and accomplishment in this life is being a father to eight righteous children." George, the fourth of ten children, was born in Logan, Utah to Dan and Margaret Swenson. He spent most of his childhood and youth there. He served an L.D.S. Mission to Sweden, finishing in the Eastern States mission when World War II began. His fondest memory of the Swedish portion of his mission was being a soloist in a 12-man missionary choir, The American Harmony Singers. His love for our Savior, Jesus Christ, and witness of Him, was powerfully felt through his gift of song. Serving in the Air Force during World War II, he traveled to England, France, Belgium and Germany. He married Virginia McQuarrie of Salt Lake City, Aug. 8, 1946, in the Logan, Utah L.D.S. Temple. They had eight children, 36 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. While attending Utah State University, he earned a B.S. in Psychology and a Masters in Speech Pathology, and received a Doctorate in Speech Pathology from the University of Southern California. He loved traveling and has lived in Los Angeles, California; Honolulu, Hawaii; Ogden, Utah, upstate New York; Lubbock, Texas; and in West Jordan, Sandy, Lehi, Provo and Spanish Fork, Utah. In 1983, he and his wife served an L.D.S. mission as a couple, to Malmo, Sweden. This was a wonderful time of love and togetherness while serving the Lord. His last few years, he worked at the Provo library, becoming a great favorite with all the children. He also worked as a foster grandparent with the Provo school district. He said that being a grandpa to many kindergarten children was his favorite job. He served faithfully in the L.D.S. church in various callings. He last served in the High Priest Group leadership in the Franklin Ward, in Provo, South Stake. He was dearly loved by his children and all those who knew him, because of his gentle nature, kind heart, and generous spirit.He was preceded in death by his parents, Dan Arthur Swenson and Anna Margaret Elizabeth Hellberg; wife, Virginia Swenson in 1995; brother, Lloyd Swenson; and sister, May Swenson. He is survived by brothers and sisters, Roy Swenson, Dan Swenson, Grace Turetsky, Ruth Eyre, Beth Hall, Margaret Woodbury and Paul Swenson; and by his sons and daughters, Corwin Swenson, Susan Dixon, Kristine Carter, David Swenson, Diane Lee, Dan Swenson, Julia Olsen, Curtis Swenson, and a foster daughter Bobbi Emmons and her seven children.
Funeral Services will be held on Friday morning, Aug. 6th at 11 a.m. in the Franklin Ward Chapel, 610 West 300 So. in Provo. Friends may call on Thursday evening, Aug. 5th, at the Franklin Ward Chapel, from 6 to 8 p.m. and one hour prior to services. Interment, Mt. View Memorial Estates Cemetery, under the direction of Berg Mortuary.