Inge Hildegard (Schulte) Seward, 90, of Lubbock, TX, passed away on Thursday June 5, 2025.
Inge was born on April 9, 1935, in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, to Eric Jeppson and Hildegard Marks Jeppson. Her early years were spent in Germany. She and her family escaped to Poland after Germany was invaded in World War II. When the war ended in 1945, she and her family returned to Germany. Because her father was English, they were able to relocate to London, England. It was here where Inge truly felt at home. She often said that life in Germany was “like living in black and white,” while life in England was “living in full color.”
In December of 1954, while stepping out of a café on a rainy day, she met a handsome American airman, Gene Seward, of Gatesville, TX, who offered her his umbrella. This simple act of kindness changed her life’s trajectory in ways she never imagined. Instead of a May to December romance, they had a December to May romance and were married on May 21, 1955.
Although she did not have the opportunity to attend college, Inge experienced a long and distinguished career in banking. She began her profession as a teller at Valley National Bank in Phoenix, AZ. From there, she worked her way up to Vice President of Operations at Texas Commerce Bank in Lubbock, TX. Many of Lubbock’s current banking executives began their careers under the training and guidance of her expertise and experience. She retired after thirty years of serving the Lubbock community.
Her hobbies and interests were varied. She was an avid reader and enjoyed gardening, puzzles, knitting, sewing, card games, and classic movies. Although English was not her first language, she challenged herself to complete the newspaper’s daily crossword. She was a fierce Jeopardy competitor from the comfort of her couch and rarely missed a question. She also travelled extensively throughout her life. Stops included many countries in Europe, the Caribbean, Canada, Mexico, and all across the United States.
Inge was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Gene Seward, her daughter-in-law, Diane Seward, her granddaughter, Sarah Johnson, her sisters-in-law, Mary Lou Turner and Bobbie Seward, her brothers-in-law, Morris Turner and Charles Seward. She is survived by her children Michael Seward, Lynne Miller (Vink), Lori Johnson (Keith), and Leslie Bernhardt; her grandchildren Joshua Johnson (Olivia), Kelly Hardy (Stephen), Kristen Welborn (Chris), Kerbi Guinn (Cheyne), Hannah Johnson, and several great-grandchildren.
We extend a heart-felt thank you to her lifelong friends the “Lunch Bunch” – Jeninne Blackburn, Anna Humphreys, Pat Parker, Linda Patterson, LaFern Pearson, and Martha Wiley. These ladies met while working for several banks in Lubbock and together had over 260 years of banking experience. You epitomize what true friendship is all about!
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