ELKHART — Marjorie M. Gundlach Swift, 96, of Elkhart, passed away Monday morning, March 2, at Eastlake Terrace.

Marge was born Aug. 4, 1918, in Elkhart, to the late Guy and Josephine (Drew) Riblet.

She married Melvin Gundlach, who is now deceased.

She married Leroy J. "Lee" Swift on Sept. 11, 1981, in Bristol. Lee passed away March 18, 2002.

In addition to her parents and husbands, Melvin Gundlach and Lee Swift, Marge was preceded in death by her sons, Michael and David Gundlach, and siblings Dolores Harrison and Robert "Bob" Riblet.

Surviving are her stepchildren, Donald C. (Mary) Swift of Bristol and Virginia Swift of Columbia, Ky.; stepgrandchildren Christopher N. Swift and Nathan L. (Jennifer) Swift; and great-grandchildren Fisher L. Swift and Eloise V. Swift.

Marge was a 1939 graduate of Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. She was a second lieutenant U.S. Army nurse in the South Pacific during World War II at the Johns Hopkins Hospital Base Unit 18 in the Fiji Islands.

She worked for Dr. Fleming in Elkhart for many years and as an industrial nurse for Excel Corp., in Elkhart.

She was a longtime member of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, Elcona Country Club and Christiana Creek Country Club. Marge was an avid bridge player, dancer and golfer for many years.

Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, March 6, at Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 7, at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 1405 N. Main St., Elkhart, where friends may call for an hour prior to the Mass. Father Jason Freiburger will officiate. Entombment will follow in the Memories Mausoleum in Rice Cemetery.

The family would like to thank the many caregivers and staff at Eastlake Terrace and Compassionate Caregivers who helped make Marge's recent months comfortable and pleasant. They would also like to thank the staff members of AseraCare Hospice, a family-centered hospice who assisted Marge during the past several months.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly request donations be made to AseraCare Hospice, 700 E. Beardsley Ave., Ste. 2B, Elkhart, IN 46514; or the Salvation Army, 300 N. Main St., Elkhart, IN 46516. Online condolences may be sent at www.billingsfuneralhome.com.

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