Arlo Jane (Vandeven) Sweeney

Arlo Jane (Vandeven) Sweeney was born April 8, 1939, in Leopold, MO to Herman and Louise Vandeven.

She passed away in Lawton, OK on October 25, 2020.

Arlo graduated from Bishop Toolen High School in Mobile, AL. 

As a senior, she was honored to have been voted May Queen by her classmates. She met John P. Sweeney in AL and they married in March 1960 just before he left to serve in the US Army in the Korean War.  They spent the next 20 years raising four children together on military installations, traveling throughout the US and Germany.  Arlo was a fantastic military wife throughout all her husband's tours of duty in Africa, Korea, Vietnam, and Turkey.  She was very active with the officer's wives club and was awarded the Molly Pitcher Award at Fort Sill for all her volunteer service to the Field Artillery Community on the base.  She was a loving, humorous, talented and devoted mother who was actively involved with her children's schools, scout troops, and sports teams.

After she and her husband divorced in 1979, she studied to be a bank teller and was employed with Citizens Bank in Lawton for many years until her health forced her into early retirement.  Arlo dearly loved her grandchildren and her great granddaughter immensely. She delighted in everything they did and said. She was so proud of them all.  In addition to being a supreme baker who made delectable treats, she was also an avid seamstress.  She made most of her own  clothing and sewed beautiful clothes, costumes, dance and bridesmaids gowns for her family and friends.  She was a devout Catholic with the kindest soul on this Earth.  She prayed the rosary every day. Her diabetes eventually deteriorated her body and her eyes and she had to live out her last years at McMahon- Tomlinson Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.  We are so grateful to all her wonderful caregivers.  Everyone knew Arlo was a diehard St. Louis Cardinals Baseball fan. She lived for baseball season.  She loved her "Cardinal Birds". Now she will be one of our "Cardinal Birds" sent from heaven to watch over us all.  Sending all our love to our Mom and Nanny.

Arlo leaves behind four children: Alicia (Zoltan) Latinovich of Pittsburgh, PA; John (Nicole) Sweeney of Lawton, OK; Richard Sweeney of Lubbock, TX; and Cynthia Booher of Lawton, OK. She had six grandchildren: Brandon (Anna) Booher, Lauren (Brian) Hayes, Zoltan J. Latinovich, Kenton Latinovich, Amanda Sweeney, and Tyler Sweeney, and one great-granddaughter, Selena Booher.  Arlo also leaves behind one brother, Michael (Nancy) Vandeven of O'Fallon, MO and their five children and families.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her older brother, Ralph Vandeven. 

Due to the pandemic, funeral and interment will be private.

In Lieu of flowers, memorial donations in the memory of Arlo J. Sweeney can be made to: Holy family Catholic Church, 1010 NW 82nd St, Lawton, Ok 73505.

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Arlo Jane (Vandeven) Sweeney, please visit our Tree Store.