Kathryn Regina Wagner

Kathryn Regina (Swigart) Wagner, “Kitty” to anyone who knew her, was born March 26, 1932, in Lewistown, Pennsylvania, to Laura Atina Swigart and Samuel Clarence Swigart. Kitty went to be with her Lord on May 15, 2021, at the age of 89 years old, in Conway, Arkansas.

She graduated in 1957 from Elizabethtown College, in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, with a degree in elementary education, and was an accomplished athlete, helping to start the college’s women’s tennis program and was honored as the Outstanding Female Athlete of the 1957 senior class by the Elizabethtown College Ira R. Herr Athletic Hall of Fame. She was a dominant forward on the women’s basketball team and her 17.7 career scoring average still ranks fourth in school history. She played basketball, tennis, wiffleball, and pickleball for most of her life, and always accompanied her husband, Loren, to the tennis court to watch, whether or not she was playing.

Kitty married her husband, Loren Wagner, on June 7, 1958, and they were married for 63 years. She taught third and fifth grade for many years, and loved music, history, gardening, needlework, reading, and spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She and Loren raised two daughters, Lori and Londa, who continued her tradition of caring for others by becoming a nurse and a therapist. Kitty also coordinated her family hobby of 4H and Western pleasure, showmanship, and halter classes at local horse shows. Always dedicated to her friends and family, Kitty loved hosting family holidays and events, giving personal gifts, and collecting memories in photographs.

Kitty formed and led the Kingdom Ringers handbell choir, played piano, viola, percussion, e-flat horn, and baritone, and coordinated for the Bella Vista Big Band for many years. She also sang alto in her church choir and acted, directed, and produced church dramas for many years.

Kitty Wagner was preceded in death by her parents, Laura Atina Swigart and Samuel Clarence Swigart; her brothers, Lester Akerly and Dale Swigart; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Russell and Dianne Wagner, Darlene and Norman Smith; and her grandson, Paul Loren Revis.

Kitty is lovingly remembered by her husband, Loren Wagner; daughters, Lori O’Leary and husband Fred O’Leary and Londa Revis and husband Paul Revis; her brother and sister-in-law Alan and Joyce Swigart; her brother and sister-in-law Thomas and Shirley Wagner; her grandchildren, Tricia and Sean Schiebout, Kate and Jesse Brauning, Matthew and Aimee Waymire, Rebekah and Sam Johnson, Lydia and Jake Buss, Samuel and Courtney Revis; her great-grandchildren, Emma, Brielle, Julianne, Charlotte, Rosalie, Isaiah, Eli, and Noah; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Paul L. Revis Memorial Scholarship Fund, University of Central Arkansas Foundation.

Services will be held Friday May 21, 2021 at Central Baptist Church 3333 Dave Ward Dr, Conway, Arkansas 72034 with Pastor Ben South officiating. Visitation will be at 9:00 AM and service at 10:00 AM. Interment will follow at Crestlawn Memorial Park in Conway.

The family would like to thank Kindred Hospice, Dr. Tilley, and our wonderful nurse Donna Gunther, as well as the nurses and aides at Salem Place Women’s Observation Hall and their Central Baptist Church family.

Arrangements for Kathryn Regina (Swigart) Wagner are under the care and direction of Vilonia Funeral Home 1134 Main Street Vilonia, AR 72173. Sign the online guestbook at www.viloniafuneralhome.com