Barbara Jean Sargent Swink, 76, died Monday, May 13 at home in Oakdale after a short illness with her daughters and niece by her side.
She was born in San Francisco to Harold and Lucille Humphries. She graduated from Amador High School in Pleasanton. She attended Modesto Junior College for two years.
Her parents were owners and trainers of thoroughbred horses, so she traveled with them all over the U.S. and Canada racing horses. She married W. Sargent who was also in the same line of work and they and their daughters traveled again to even more states, moving several times a year until their divorce in 1967.
In 1969, she met her best friend and love of her life, land surveyor Roger Swink, and they married a few years later. They left Salida, moved to San Ramon, where she worked for Shell Oil Company as an executive secretary. Then she and her husband went to work on the pipeline in Alaska until the job was finished and then she became Postmaster in Prudo Bay, Alaska.
Mrs. Swink and her husband then moved to Valley Home, bought a ranch, and took a year off from work, as was their custom after a job was complete. They then moved to Saudi Arabia to work and lived in Kuwait, and Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. She was always her husband’s secretary and during this time he was an engineer. The couple then went to Cabello and on to Otorada and Merida, Venezuela to work. She was very happy and loved to travel the world.
In 1989, she sold the ranch and moved to her parents’ ranch in Oakdale until their deaths, and hers.
She loved politics and was a campaign manager for a candidate in the Valley for President. She was involved in every Democratic association including Democratic National Committee, National League of Democratic Women Voters, Democratic Victory Fund member, NAACP supporter, American Civil Liberties Union, Alliance for Retired Americans, Disabled American Veterans, NARAL Pro-Choice, Dignity With Death, St. Judes, EDF, Habitat for Humanity, and the Humane Society. She shared her passions with her daughters.
She loved her family and they brought great joy to her life.
She is survived by her daughters, Roxanne Sutton, Desiree Sargent-Bennett; sister, Shirley Jones of Kentucky and Oakdale; three grandsons; six great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Roger Swink; and her parents, Harold and Lucille Humphries.
A celebration of life will be planned for a future date.
Remembrances may be made in her name to the charity of your choice or to one of her passions.
Oakdale Memorial Chapel in charge of arrangements.
