Ann Heffner Swank Obituary

Ann Swank passed away peacefully at her farm in Stillwater on August 22, 2026, joining her beloved husband, David, and her loving God in heaven.

Born in Anderson, South Carolina on December 5, 1931 Ann was the daughter of Col. Pete Heffner and Marjorie Lucille Heffner. Due to her father’s military career, which spanned 35 years and two World Wars, the family moved often until finally settling in Stillwater during Ann’s sophomore year of high school.

Ann and David met in high school and remained sweethearts throughout college. They were married on June 12, 1953, and celebrated their 72nd anniversary last June before David’s passing.

Ann was a Renaissance woman whose college achievements included Mortar Board and Phi Kappa Phi honor society, while also serving as president of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, the “Sweetheart of Sigma Chi,” and lettered in the Oklahoma A&M Rifle Team.

She enjoyed researching her family’s genealogy and was a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Daughters of the Texas Republic. She also served as a Deacon at the First Presbyterian Church in Norman.

Ann was a gracious and devoted wife to David, supporting him throughout his military career as an officer in the 101st Airborne Division and Green Berets and his 50-plus years as a law professor and Dean at the University of Oklahoma Law School. This included a stint as OU’s First Lady when David served as interim President of the University.

Throughout their lives together Ann and David remained avid duck and quail hunters and enjoyed fly-fishing, leading many people to consider Ann one of Oklahoma’s premier female outdoorsmen of her time. Ann and David were true stewards of the land, maintaining their family farms, where they planted native trees and worked to restore pastureland and wildlife habitats.

An artist and poet, Ann’s work has been exhibited in several Oklahoma museums, including Tulsa's Gilcrease and Philbrook Museums and the Fred Jones and Goddard Center in Norman, as well as a recent one-woman exhibition at Norman’s Santa Fe Depot. She attributed her artistic achievements to God, taking little credit for her talents. It was an extension of her belief that her life had been blessed in every way.

Her passion for art led Ann to encourage budding artists and poets to pursue their own dreams. She had an appreciation for Native American art and collected works from artists throughout her adult life.

In 2020, with help from their daughter, Ami, David and Ann retired to their family farm, where Ann continued to paint landscapes until her death.

Ann leaves behind daughter, Ami Swank and son, David Swank II, both of Stillwater as well as grandchildren, David III and Katie Swank. Ann was preceded in death by her husband, David, and her brother Harry Swank.

Ann's final wish was for people not to mourn her passing. She said “Please do not mourn, I am blessed with a loving family and wonderful friends. I will see you on the other side”

The family plans a simple graveside service on Thursday, September 3rd at 10:30 a.m. Sunset Gardens, 6500 S. Perkins Road, Stillwater (Hwy 177 just north of Highway 33). For details, contact Strode Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, make donations to Redeemed Global Ministries, P.O. Box 1214, Stillwater, OK 74076.