Theo Meryl Schwietert

Theo Meryl Schwietert lived 100 years, and in her own words: "I achieved all the things I wanted to do." She was a natural-born teacher and taught Business College before she attended Central Washington University where she became an elementary teacher. Theo served in the Women's Army Corps during WWII. She met her husband, Willard Schwietert, while attending college and they married shortly after graduating in 1950.

Theo taught one year in Pasco before living and teaching in Benton City. She enjoyed teaching 5th grade. She was always thinking of inventive ways to motivate and reach her students. Theo enjoyed camping, fishing, gardening, and traveling. In later years, she took several cruises to Hawaii, Alaska, the Panama Canal, and Costa Rica. She, too, was an avid reader.

Later, Theo and Willard moved to Rio Rancho, New Mexico when they retired. They enjoyed the sun and desert living. Theo moved back to Kennewick after Willard's death in 1996.

Theo has two daughters, Ann Rodman, her husband, Tom, and son, Eric, in Kennewick and Sandra Bushnell, her husband, Wayne, and daughter, Emily, in Walla Walla. Theo had a green thumb and always grew a big garden. At one point she had over 100 varieties of iris.

She was always up for an adventure and taught her daughters to value education and to never stop learning new things. She will be greatly missed.

No funeral services will be held at her request. Her remains will be buried in Santa Fe with her husband, Willard.

Memorial Contributions may be made to Walla Walla Community Hospice or Central Washington University through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W Alder, Walla Walla, WA.