Sonja Swindler Obituary

Sonja Kristine Swindler
1935-2010
Sonja Swindler, 75, of Medford, Ore., took the hand of God on the morning of May 25, 2010, at Rogue Valley Memorial Hospital. Sonja was surrounded and loved by her friends and family during her brief illness with acute leukemia.

Sonja was a prayer warrior, worshiped and loved the Lord with all her heart, she was a faithful mother, grandmother and friend to many. Although she was excited about her Eternal life and made sure she shared that with everyone, she will be deeply missed. The joy in Sonja's life came from her faith, family and friends.

Sonja was born on January 27, 1935, to Jorgen and Marjorie Jorgensen. Her father immigrated to the United States from Bergen, Norway. Sonja graduated from Medford Senior High School and also attended Northwestern Business School in Portland, Ore., and Southern Oregon College in Ashland.

On July 23, 1955, Sonja married Robert Swindler, who preceded her in death. She is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Teri and Mike Ray, of Mt. Shasta, Calif.; granddaughter, Kristine (Ray) Duncan and her son-in-law, Jonathan Duncan, of Lake Shastina, Calif.; grandson, Matthew Ray and daughter-in-law, Kathleen Ray, of Mt. Shasta, Calif.; sisters, Janice Lawrence, of Alamo, Calif., Jean Steele, of Hamilton, Mont.; and cousins, Dr. Gordon Marx and Pat Allard, of Medford, Ore.

After many years as a homemaker, Sonja managed the Country Bride store for five years. For the past 21 years she was a participant in Pickety Place Antique Shop, of Jacksonville.

A celebration of Sonja's life will be held at Hillcrest Memorial Cemetery at 11:00 a.m., on Friday, June 4, 2010. The family pastor, Ray Horst, will officiate. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, NC, 28201, or the Evangelical Free Church, 1030 W.A. Barr Rd., Mt. Shasta, CA, 96067.