The Capitol Dome

Winter 2012

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Clara Ethel Schwengel 1909-2011 I T ISWITH GREAT SADNESS that theUnited StatesCapitolHistor- ical Society reports the passing of Clara Ethel Schwengel, the widow of the founding president of the Society, on August 30, 2011 at the age of 102. Beloved wife of the late Congressman Fred D. Schwengel; mother of Frank D. Schwengel and his wife Gwen of Santa Monica, CA, and Dorothy S. Cosby and her husband Neale of Alexandria, VA; grandmother of Robert Schwengel, Cameron and Scott Cosby, Kris and Kurt Schwengel; she is also survived by nine great grandchildren: Riley, Caitlin, Elizabeth, John, Kane, Cole, Blaine, Leia, andWoody. Ethel, as shewas lovingly known to family and friends,was born Clara Ethel Cassity on the family farm of her parents, Frank and Miriam Cassity, near Purdin, Missouri. After attending a rural school, she graduated from Purdin High School in 1927. In 1932 she graduated from Kirksville 26 THE CAPITOL DOME [Missouri] State Teachers College, now known as Truman State University. While a student in college, shemarried Frederic Schwengel on August 15, 1931 atUnionville,Missouri. Following gradua- tion she and her husband lived in Kirksville where Mr. Schwengel was a high school history and government teacher and athletic coach. In 1937, the Schwengels moved to Davenport, Iowa. Mrs. Schwengelwas a physical education director there from1943 to 1946. Shewasmember of theChapter IC, P.E.O. (Philanthropic Educational Organization) in Davenport and Chapter AB of P.E.O. inWashington,D.C. She is amember of theOrder of the Eastern Star,Kirksville,MissouriChapter 184, and the Pyramid Temple No. 10, Daughters of the Nile in Davenport, Iowa. She served on the Scott County Girl Scout Council and was a Chairman Emeritus of the YWCA Board in Davenport, Iowa. WINTER 2012

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