Roberta Elaine Lillis Swingler, 91, of Fort Madison, IA, passed away at 9:30 p.m. on Friday, February 21, 2025 at Birkwood Village in Fort Madison, after a fall a week earlier. “Bertie” was born on August 16, 1933 in Keokuk, IA to Roy Cole & Grace Helen Harrison Lillis, the second of five children. She married Robert Buel Swingler in 1956 and they later divorced. She worked at Fort Madison Bank & Trust and retired from Lee County Bank as the head of customer service and was known for her skills with people. She was a devout Christian, was a faithful member of Fort Madison Christian Church and studied her Bible daily. She enjoyed birdwatching & feeding her hummers and cardinals. She loved to cook & bake, her strawberry jam and apple pie were the best. She crocheted afghans as gifts and her favorite music was country & piano, especially Floyd Cramer. In her retirement, she enjoyed reading, especially clean country and also enjoyed coloring and vacationing in the Ozarks and Davenport.
Roberta is survived by: 1-daughter: Debra King of Fort Madison, IA; 1-brother: James Lillis of Arkansas; 1-sister: Beverly Hanson of Illinois and numerous nieces & nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, 1-sister: Clara Joyce Dorothy, 1-brother: Richard Lillis and her beloved poodle, Armand.
Cremation has been entrusted to the care of King-Lynk Funeral Home & Crematory and no services are planned. Burial will be held at a later date in Elvaston Cemetery in Elvaston, IL. Online condolences to the Swingler family may be left at the King-Lynk Funeral Home & Crematory website: www.kinglynk.com.
