Henry Joseph

"Hank" Swartz

In Loving Memory Of

Henry Joseph "Hank" Swartz

December 3, 1928 – December 28, 2025

Henry Joseph "Hank" Swartz, of Sugar Land and Harlingen, Texas was born on December 3, 1928, in Maracaibo, Venezuela, the third son of Henry Joseph Swartz Sr. and Ana Isabel Swartz d'Empaire of Maracaibo.

Henry's older brothers were Anthony Miles "Tony" Swartz (who passed away in 1991) and Eduardo Jose "Joe" Swartz (who passed away in 2021).

Henry's father, Henry Joseph Swartz Sr., was killed along with the legendary singer Carlos Gardel in an airplane crash on June 24, 1935 in Medellin, Colombia.  Following this tragedy, Henry's mother, Ana Isabel Swartz d'Empaire, and her three sons moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Germantown area).

Henry graduated from Central High School in Philadelphia and from Penn State University, where he majored in petroleum engineering and played on the soccer (futbol) team.  He also served in the United States Army, primarily in Japan as a corporal, from 1954 to 1956.

After graduating from college, Henry moved to New Mexico and then to Texas to work in the oil business.  He worked as a petroleum engineer for Shell Oil Company and Pecten Oil Company for 40 years in Midland, Texas; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Houston, Texas.

Henry supervised a team of reservoir engineers and worked with geologists to open new oil fields, both on-shore and off-shore, not only in the United States, but in other countries such as Nigeria, Syria, Cameroon and Malaysia.  His teams helped discover and develop some of the largest oil reserves in those countries.

Henry married Mary Jane Glahn of Midland, Texas, on December 6, 1958 at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Midland.   The couple was married for 62 years, before Mary Jane passed away on October 4, 2021.

The couple had five children (grand-children of Henry Joseph Swartz Sr. and Ana Isabella Swartz d'Empaire).  They are Michael Joseph Swartz (Lucy), Stephen John Swartz (Amy), Thomas James Swartz,  Margaret Marie Swartz, and Paul William Swartz (who passed away on March 17, 2000).

Henry Joseph "Hank" and Mary Jane Swartz also have eight grandchildren: Samuel John Swartz (Alyssa), Angela Marie Dolan (Robert Edward III), Devon Michelle Swartz (Justin Bull), Paige Marie Ruiz, Wilson Thomas Swartz, Emily Elizabeth Swartz, Matthew Joseph Swartz, and Nicole Margaret Swartz.

In addition, Henry and Mary Jane have three great-grandchildren:  Ana Maria Dolan, Sofia Swartz, and Robert Edward Dolan IV; as well as numerous nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.

Henry is a caring, helpful and generous father and grandfather, and is much loved and admired by his family and friends.

Henry and Mary Jane were among the founding members of St. Albert's Catholic Church in Houston (in 1973), and for many years he served as an usher at the church, as well as on the parish finance council.

Henry also volunteered to teach English as a second language to adults in the Houston, Texas area, and his students were very appreciative of Henry, as he helped them gain the knowledge and confidence to be able to communicate in English with their grandchildren and others.

In addition, Henry also volunteered to help seniors prepare their tax returns … and along with his wife Mary Jane volunteered at the "Twice Blessed" thrift shop, which provided food, clothing and other services for needy residents of southwest Houston.

Henry enjoyed traveling, visiting 45 countries in the course of his career with the international branch of Shell Oil Company … and enjoyed going on ocean and river cruises with his wife Mary Jane and their friends Bob and Margie Schafer and Mr. and Mrs. Bob Buebe.  Henry and Mary Jane also traveled to Rome, Italy, where they attended an audience with Saint Pope John Paul II.

Henry and Mary Jane also enjoyed square dancing and hosting their children and grandchildren during family get-togethers for Christmas, Thanksgiving, and other holidays, birthdays, and special occasions.

A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Albert Trapani Catholic Church with Father Vincent Tran as celebrant located at 11027 S. Gessner Rd in Houston, Texas 77071.

Interment will follow to Forest Park Cemetery at 2:00 p.m. located at 12800 Westheimer Rd in Houston, Texas 77077.

In addition, a Memorial Mass will be held on Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 10 am at St. Anthony Catholic Church, 1015 E. Van Buren, Harlingen, TX 78550.

With profound love and remembrance, the family of Henry Joseph "Hank" Swartz have entrusted his funeral arrangements to Lenny Elizondo, funeral director/owner of Trinity at Harrison Funeral Home, 1002 East Harrison Ave. Harlingen, Texas 78550. You may contact us at (956)364-2444 or visit us at www.trinityfunerals.com

Those who would like to make any donations in memory of Henry Swartz may send contributions to: St. Albert Trapani Catholic Church, 11027 S. Gessner Rd, Houston, Tx 77071 or to St. Anthony Catholic Church, 209 S 10th Street, Harlingen, Texas 78550.