Meet Galen & Donna

Galen & Donna Swab are both original members of Advent, as their families had both joined when it was established.  Galen's family lived in Warrensville and transferred from Lutheran Church of the Covenant in Maple Heights.  Donna and her family transferred from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Cleveland, although they lived in Bedford Heights.  Their parents were Edward and Marie, from Warrensville and Art and Ruth Ungar, from Bedford Heights. 
 
Galen and Donna were members of the newly formed Luther League, and said it was so big and popular that they had multiple people running for the offices.  (They confessed to not voting for the other.) Galen was the first president and Donna first secretary. 
 
Galen and Donna married December 12, 1970 (yes, the big 50 is coming up this year), just before Galen graduated from Bowling Green in business education.  They had planned on staying on in Bowling Green, but Mr. Swab died suddenly, and they moved back to the area.  Galen did graduate school at Kent State and taught in a variety of high schools before moving into sales, retiring from Stevens Worldwide  Van Lines.  Donna trained in secretarial work and worked with Don Ganzhorn many years ago, and then for the city of Solon for 17 years.
 
Their immediate family is son Brian, now 46, married, working in information technology, and living in North Royalton with his wife and 3 sons; and Amy, now 42, married, working as a physical therapist at Summa Hospital, Akron, and living in Uniontown with her husband, son, and twin daughters.  Both were baptized and confirmed at Advent (so look up their photos some day on the education wing wall).
 
During their many years at Advent, Galen played on the original softball team for several years, and served numerous terms on church council, taught adult Sunday school, and served as usher and communion server. 
 
The Swabs have always enjoyed travelling, and have visited all 50 states and dozens of national parks and monuments.  The cruising bug hit over 20 years ago, and they have never tired of meeting new people, seeing new sights, and learning about other cultures. They value Mark Twain’s opinion: "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime."
 
In addition to travel, Galen enjoys gardening and is a regular blood donor with the Red Cross, with nearly 200 donations.  Donna enjoys reading and having lunch out with friends. Galen is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, active with the color guard and participates in various ceremonies. 
 
The Swabs have lived on Liberty Road in Solon for most of their marriage.  If you don’t know this wonderful couple, make sure you introduce yourselves when at last we can return to worship inside Advent.