Miss-Delectable
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Former Beach woman made sure deaf’s needs were heard
For years, her dream was to move to Alaska to be near her children and grandchildren.
In June, Darlene Swindell and her husband, Bubba, sold their house in Pungo, packed a U-Haul and made the trek.
With her husband and son Danny, Darlene Swindell found a house with a breathtaking view and settled into life a long way from Hampton Roads. She took a job doing what she always did: fighting for the rights of the disabled.
Coming home from work last week, Swindell’s car skidded on some ice, hit another car and careened down a ravine, instantly killing her.
Swindell, 57, was known for fighting discrimination “in every form,” said Kristin Cooper, a co-worker.
When her middle child, Danny, was born deaf, Swindell taught herself sign language and later became a certified interpreter for the deaf.
While living in Ohio, she fought her school district until it provided interpreters so the deaf could attend regular classes.
Moving to Virginia Beach, Swindell served as an interpreter for the public schools and also worked for the Virginia Office for Protection and Advocacy.
“Whatever her title was, it didn’t cover what she did,” said Cooper, an attorney with the office. “She was the computer whiz who set up the office. She was an interpreter. She helped with investigations.”
She translated more than language, said Shannon Manning, another colleague.
“She understood the problems and frustrations” deaf people face.
Away from work, Swindell loved the simple life.
“She was jeans and no makeup,” sister-in-law Paula Quidgeon said.
A high time for Swindell was having dinner on a Saturday night at the VFW and listening to bluegrass.
Her loves were camping at Knotts Island, N.C., and jumping on the back of Bubba’s motorcycle and taking off anywhere and everywhere when the mood struck.
After her two other children moved to Alaska 20 years ago, Swindell visited often as she could. She always returned vowing, “One day I’m going to move out there.” The chance came last summer, when, unexpectedly, the Swindells were made an offer on the old house they had restored.
Urging her friends back home to visit, she’d tell them, “It’s as close to heaven as you can get.”
For years, her dream was to move to Alaska to be near her children and grandchildren.
In June, Darlene Swindell and her husband, Bubba, sold their house in Pungo, packed a U-Haul and made the trek.
With her husband and son Danny, Darlene Swindell found a house with a breathtaking view and settled into life a long way from Hampton Roads. She took a job doing what she always did: fighting for the rights of the disabled.
Coming home from work last week, Swindell’s car skidded on some ice, hit another car and careened down a ravine, instantly killing her.
Swindell, 57, was known for fighting discrimination “in every form,” said Kristin Cooper, a co-worker.
When her middle child, Danny, was born deaf, Swindell taught herself sign language and later became a certified interpreter for the deaf.
While living in Ohio, she fought her school district until it provided interpreters so the deaf could attend regular classes.
Moving to Virginia Beach, Swindell served as an interpreter for the public schools and also worked for the Virginia Office for Protection and Advocacy.
“Whatever her title was, it didn’t cover what she did,” said Cooper, an attorney with the office. “She was the computer whiz who set up the office. She was an interpreter. She helped with investigations.”
She translated more than language, said Shannon Manning, another colleague.
“She understood the problems and frustrations” deaf people face.
Away from work, Swindell loved the simple life.
“She was jeans and no makeup,” sister-in-law Paula Quidgeon said.
A high time for Swindell was having dinner on a Saturday night at the VFW and listening to bluegrass.
Her loves were camping at Knotts Island, N.C., and jumping on the back of Bubba’s motorcycle and taking off anywhere and everywhere when the mood struck.
After her two other children moved to Alaska 20 years ago, Swindell visited often as she could. She always returned vowing, “One day I’m going to move out there.” The chance came last summer, when, unexpectedly, the Swindells were made an offer on the old house they had restored.
Urging her friends back home to visit, she’d tell them, “It’s as close to heaven as you can get.”