Joanne Valdes Swanson

Joanne Valdes Swanson passed away on March 3rd, 2023 at the age of 74.  She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Thomas W Swanson and her children, Suzanne and Sherry, her brother Ray, her sisters Janice and Lenora, two grandsons Tommy & Dylan and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Joanne was born in Savannah, GA in 1948 to Joseph Richard Valdes and Gloria Johnson Olstrom but was raised in Tampa, FL where she attended the original Jefferson High School as a proud West Tampa Dragon!  Joanne went on to the University of Florida where she met her husband while they were in the Florida Gator Band.  She later graduated with both BSBA and MBA degrees from UF.

She and her husband moved to Chattanooga, TN in 1973 where she first worked for Blue Cross Blue Shield of TN and then the Tennessee Valley Authority until her retirement in 1999.   While at TVA she was one of several women who formed the first Federally Employed Women (FEW) chapter at TVA.  Throughout her life she enjoyed travelling and taking the girls on trips across the U.S., Hawaii, Europe and England.

She especially enjoyed living on the Chickamauga Lake and watching people play on the TN River during the summers and the VOL Navy heading upriver on the Friday before a home game during the Fall.  Her favorite color was sunset over the lake.  Her bird feeders, indoor plants and Danielle Steel novels were a passion along with many, many trips to the Tampa Bay area to see family and friends.

She will be missed by her family and the many colleagues and friends that cherished their relationship with her.  She will be laid to rest on April 27th in the Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah.  May she forever rest in peace among the azaleas of Bonaventure.

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