Memorial name reflects marker & death info
No Jr. listed
09-06-2023
Sept. 16, 1930 - Nov. 7, 2018
William "Bill" Swindells, age 88, died Nov. 7, 2018, after a long decline resulting from multiple strokes. Bill was born Sept. 16, 1930 in Oakland, Calif., to William Swindells, Sr. and Irene Gerlinger Swindells. He spent his early years in Dallas, Ore., before moving to Portland where he graduated from Lincoln High School in 1948. He attended Amherst College and then Stanford University, where he graduated in 1953 with a degree in Industrial Engineering.
Bill joined the Air Force but was quickly released with the end of the Korean War. He returned to Dallas to work in the family business, Willamette Valley Lumber Co., while he decided what career he'd pursue. He never left the company.
He met Ann Rae Johnston in 1954 at an end-of-summer dance in Lincoln City. They dated for two months, were engaged for four, and were married March 19, 1955. They had four children and were married until Ann's death in 2009. On his 79th birthday he married Anne Fraser Murphy (he said that wedding date would make it easier to remember his anniversary) and was married to Anne for nine years until his passing.
Bill was a wonderful, loving husband and father. With his family he skied, hunted, fished and traveled. He loved Central Oregon and made many friends in Bend. He loved gardening, golf and playing bridge. Bill was an active member of Waverley Country Club, Thunderbird Country Club, the Arlington Club and the Multnomah Athletic Club. When asked by the MAC to contribute to a memorial fund for Joe Loprinzi, he gave five times the asked amount. "That man saved my life," he gave as his reason.
While it was never his intention, Bill continued to work for the family business. In 1967, Willamette Valley Lumber Co. merged with other Oregon timber firms to became Willamette Industries. Bill eventually became Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and led the company until it was acquired in a hostile takeover in 2002. The company was purchased for cash at an all-time high valuation.
In that year with their personal proceeds, he and Ann formed the Ann & Bill Swindells Charitable Trust, a foundation that for 16 years has made grants to a broad range of non-profits, primarily in Oregon. Bill had previously sat on a number of corporate boards, including Omark Industries, Standard Insurance, the Southern Pacific Railroad, Oregon Steel and organizations including the Oregon Community Foundation, the Oregon Historical Society and Willamette University.
Bill was predeceased by his wife of 54 years, Ann; their daughter, Jean Baton Swindells; and his brother, George E. Swindells. He is survived by his children, William R. Swindells, Leslie Swindells Ballinger (Doug), Charles Swindells (Darci); his second wife, Anne Fraser Swindells; sister-in-law, Susan Hawes Swindells; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandson. Upon hearing of his great-grandson, he responded with a big smile saying, "I finally deserve respect!"
The family would like to recognize and thank Donna Wecker, Carolyn Miller, the people at Becker Capital Management and caregivers, Lucy Zahan, Vio Zahan and Maria Murillo for their devoted care and friendship to Bill.
In lieu of flowers, the family recommends a gift to the Oregon Community Foundation or your favorite charity. After a private funeral, the family invites Bill's friends to a memorial reception at 5 p.m., Friday, Nov. 16, 2018, at the Arlington Club, Portland, OR.
The Oregonian. Portland, Oregon Nov. 9-11, 2018
No Jr. listed
09-06-2023
Sept. 16, 1930 - Nov. 7, 2018
William "Bill" Swindells, age 88, died Nov. 7, 2018, after a long decline resulting from multiple strokes. Bill was born Sept. 16, 1930 in Oakland, Calif., to William Swindells, Sr. and Irene Gerlinger Swindells. He spent his early years in Dallas, Ore., before moving to Portland where he graduated from Lincoln High School in 1948. He attended Amherst College and then Stanford University, where he graduated in 1953 with a degree in Industrial Engineering.
Bill joined the Air Force but was quickly released with the end of the Korean War. He returned to Dallas to work in the family business, Willamette Valley Lumber Co., while he decided what career he'd pursue. He never left the company.
He met Ann Rae Johnston in 1954 at an end-of-summer dance in Lincoln City. They dated for two months, were engaged for four, and were married March 19, 1955. They had four children and were married until Ann's death in 2009. On his 79th birthday he married Anne Fraser Murphy (he said that wedding date would make it easier to remember his anniversary) and was married to Anne for nine years until his passing.
Bill was a wonderful, loving husband and father. With his family he skied, hunted, fished and traveled. He loved Central Oregon and made many friends in Bend. He loved gardening, golf and playing bridge. Bill was an active member of Waverley Country Club, Thunderbird Country Club, the Arlington Club and the Multnomah Athletic Club. When asked by the MAC to contribute to a memorial fund for Joe Loprinzi, he gave five times the asked amount. "That man saved my life," he gave as his reason.
While it was never his intention, Bill continued to work for the family business. In 1967, Willamette Valley Lumber Co. merged with other Oregon timber firms to became Willamette Industries. Bill eventually became Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and led the company until it was acquired in a hostile takeover in 2002. The company was purchased for cash at an all-time high valuation.
In that year with their personal proceeds, he and Ann formed the Ann & Bill Swindells Charitable Trust, a foundation that for 16 years has made grants to a broad range of non-profits, primarily in Oregon. Bill had previously sat on a number of corporate boards, including Omark Industries, Standard Insurance, the Southern Pacific Railroad, Oregon Steel and organizations including the Oregon Community Foundation, the Oregon Historical Society and Willamette University.
Bill was predeceased by his wife of 54 years, Ann; their daughter, Jean Baton Swindells; and his brother, George E. Swindells. He is survived by his children, William R. Swindells, Leslie Swindells Ballinger (Doug), Charles Swindells (Darci); his second wife, Anne Fraser Swindells; sister-in-law, Susan Hawes Swindells; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandson. Upon hearing of his great-grandson, he responded with a big smile saying, "I finally deserve respect!"
The family would like to recognize and thank Donna Wecker, Carolyn Miller, the people at Becker Capital Management and caregivers, Lucy Zahan, Vio Zahan and Maria Murillo for their devoted care and friendship to Bill.
In lieu of flowers, the family recommends a gift to the Oregon Community Foundation or your favorite charity. After a private funeral, the family invites Bill's friends to a memorial reception at 5 p.m., Friday, Nov. 16, 2018, at the Arlington Club, Portland, OR.
The Oregonian. Portland, Oregon Nov. 9-11, 2018
Memorial name reflects marker & death info
No Jr. listed
09-06-2023
Sept. 16, 1930 - Nov. 7, 2018
William "Bill" Swindells, age 88, died Nov. 7, 2018, after a long decline resulting from multiple strokes. Bill was born Sept. 16, 1930 in Oakland, Calif., to William Swindells, Sr. and Irene Gerlinger Swindells. He spent his early years in Dallas, Ore., before moving to Portland where he graduated from Lincoln High School in 1948. He attended Amherst College and then Stanford University, where he graduated in 1953 with a degree in Industrial Engineering.
Bill joined the Air Force but was quickly released with the end of the Korean War. He returned to Dallas to work in the family business, Willamette Valley Lumber Co., while he decided what career he'd pursue. He never left the company.
He met Ann Rae Johnston in 1954 at an end-of-summer dance in Lincoln City. They dated for two months, were engaged for four, and were married March 19, 1955. They had four children and were married until Ann's death in 2009. On his 79th birthday he married Anne Fraser Murphy (he said that wedding date would make it easier to remember his anniversary) and was married to Anne for nine years until his passing.
Bill was a wonderful, loving husband and father. With his family he skied, hunted, fished and traveled. He loved Central Oregon and made many friends in Bend. He loved gardening, golf and playing bridge. Bill was an active member of Waverley Country Club, Thunderbird Country Club, the Arlington Club and the Multnomah Athletic Club. When asked by the MAC to contribute to a memorial fund for Joe Loprinzi, he gave five times the asked amount. "That man saved my life," he gave as his reason.
While it was never his intention, Bill continued to work for the family business. In 1967, Willamette Valley Lumber Co. merged with other Oregon timber firms to became Willamette Industries. Bill eventually became Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and led the company until it was acquired in a hostile takeover in 2002. The company was purchased for cash at an all-time high valuation.
In that year with their personal proceeds, he and Ann formed the Ann & Bill Swindells Charitable Trust, a foundation that for 16 years has made grants to a broad range of non-profits, primarily in Oregon. Bill had previously sat on a number of corporate boards, including Omark Industries, Standard Insurance, the Southern Pacific Railroad, Oregon Steel and organizations including the Oregon Community Foundation, the Oregon Historical Society and Willamette University.
Bill was predeceased by his wife of 54 years, Ann; their daughter, Jean Baton Swindells; and his brother, George E. Swindells. He is survived by his children, William R. Swindells, Leslie Swindells Ballinger (Doug), Charles Swindells (Darci); his second wife, Anne Fraser Swindells; sister-in-law, Susan Hawes Swindells; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandson. Upon hearing of his great-grandson, he responded with a big smile saying, "I finally deserve respect!"
The family would like to recognize and thank Donna Wecker, Carolyn Miller, the people at Becker Capital Management and caregivers, Lucy Zahan, Vio Zahan and Maria Murillo for their devoted care and friendship to Bill.
In lieu of flowers, the family recommends a gift to the Oregon Community Foundation or your favorite charity. After a private funeral, the family invites Bill's friends to a memorial reception at 5 p.m., Friday, Nov. 16, 2018, at the Arlington Club, Portland, OR.
The Oregonian. Portland, Oregon Nov. 9-11, 2018
No Jr. listed
09-06-2023
Sept. 16, 1930 - Nov. 7, 2018
William "Bill" Swindells, age 88, died Nov. 7, 2018, after a long decline resulting from multiple strokes. Bill was born Sept. 16, 1930 in Oakland, Calif., to William Swindells, Sr. and Irene Gerlinger Swindells. He spent his early years in Dallas, Ore., before moving to Portland where he graduated from Lincoln High School in 1948. He attended Amherst College and then Stanford University, where he graduated in 1953 with a degree in Industrial Engineering.
Bill joined the Air Force but was quickly released with the end of the Korean War. He returned to Dallas to work in the family business, Willamette Valley Lumber Co., while he decided what career he'd pursue. He never left the company.
He met Ann Rae Johnston in 1954 at an end-of-summer dance in Lincoln City. They dated for two months, were engaged for four, and were married March 19, 1955. They had four children and were married until Ann's death in 2009. On his 79th birthday he married Anne Fraser Murphy (he said that wedding date would make it easier to remember his anniversary) and was married to Anne for nine years until his passing.
Bill was a wonderful, loving husband and father. With his family he skied, hunted, fished and traveled. He loved Central Oregon and made many friends in Bend. He loved gardening, golf and playing bridge. Bill was an active member of Waverley Country Club, Thunderbird Country Club, the Arlington Club and the Multnomah Athletic Club. When asked by the MAC to contribute to a memorial fund for Joe Loprinzi, he gave five times the asked amount. "That man saved my life," he gave as his reason.
While it was never his intention, Bill continued to work for the family business. In 1967, Willamette Valley Lumber Co. merged with other Oregon timber firms to became Willamette Industries. Bill eventually became Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and led the company until it was acquired in a hostile takeover in 2002. The company was purchased for cash at an all-time high valuation.
In that year with their personal proceeds, he and Ann formed the Ann & Bill Swindells Charitable Trust, a foundation that for 16 years has made grants to a broad range of non-profits, primarily in Oregon. Bill had previously sat on a number of corporate boards, including Omark Industries, Standard Insurance, the Southern Pacific Railroad, Oregon Steel and organizations including the Oregon Community Foundation, the Oregon Historical Society and Willamette University.
Bill was predeceased by his wife of 54 years, Ann; their daughter, Jean Baton Swindells; and his brother, George E. Swindells. He is survived by his children, William R. Swindells, Leslie Swindells Ballinger (Doug), Charles Swindells (Darci); his second wife, Anne Fraser Swindells; sister-in-law, Susan Hawes Swindells; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandson. Upon hearing of his great-grandson, he responded with a big smile saying, "I finally deserve respect!"
The family would like to recognize and thank Donna Wecker, Carolyn Miller, the people at Becker Capital Management and caregivers, Lucy Zahan, Vio Zahan and Maria Murillo for their devoted care and friendship to Bill.
In lieu of flowers, the family recommends a gift to the Oregon Community Foundation or your favorite charity. After a private funeral, the family invites Bill's friends to a memorial reception at 5 p.m., Friday, Nov. 16, 2018, at the Arlington Club, Portland, OR.
The Oregonian. Portland, Oregon Nov. 9-11, 2018
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