Kokomo, IN. - Mona Lee Martin Swinehart, 89, died January 5, 2026, at her home in the Primrose Retirement Community in Kokomo, Indiana. She was born on June 27, 1936, in Glasgow, Montana to Verne Oliver Martin and Carolyn Yetta Clark Martin.

She resided with her parents in many cities including Miami, Florida; Roundup, Montana; Arvada and Kremmling, Colorado; and Anchorage, Alaska, and then with her husband David and children in Seattle, Washington and Kokomo, Indiana.

She graduated in 1954 from Anchorage High School, attended the University of Washington (Seattle) and graduated from IUPUI (Indianapolis and Kokomo) with bachelor's and master's degrees in Elementary Education in 1976 and 1979, respectively. Mona taught for Taylor Community Schools for 26 years, with six of those years as a reading teacher at Indian Heights Elementary School. She traveled to Russia, China, and England gathering information about their schools and education systems.

Mona met David Calvin Swinehart when they attended the University of Washington Student Assembly, where they were delegates representing their student housing organizations. They were married on March 16, 1956, at Zion American Lutheran Church in Seattle, Washington, had four sons, and remained together for 66 years until David's death on February 12, 2022.

The family moved from Seattle, Washington to Kokomo, Indiana in 1970, where she lived in the same house for 55 years, often reading or playing the piano. After retirement, she and David loved going on cruises and exploring new countries.

Mona served in many capacities at Christ Lutheran Church, including as Sunday School teacher, church choir member, and nine years on the church council. She was a member of Women's Group, she enjoyed sewing with her friends in the church's quilting group, and she loved lunches with the widows group.

Mona delivered meals for Meals on Wheels with David and worked with the League of Women Voters of Howard County.

Mona had five siblings: Eric Martin, John Martin, Janet Guinn, Vikki Epperson, and April Gordon. She had four sons: Roger in Evansville, Indiana; Ronald (Eileen Breslin) in Bloomington, Minnesota; Kenneth (Raye Jean Simpson) in Holland, Michigan; and Gary (Maryanne Berto) in Redding, California. She had nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, January 17, 2026, at Christ Lutheran Church, 3401 S. Dixon Road, Kokomo, with Pastor Gladys Nwabah officiating. Burial will follow in Albright Cemetery. Friends are invited to visit with the family from 9-11 am Saturday at the church. Memorial contributions may be made in Mona's memory to the Literacy Coalition of Kokomo-Howard County, 901 S. Courtland Ave., Kokomo, IN 46901 or online at www.literacycoalition.com/donate. Shirley & Stout Funeral Home & Crematory has been entrusted with arrangements. Messages of condolence may be left online at www.shirleyandstout.com.