Jan. 13, 1925 - Nov. 6, 2016 Helene Elizabeth Swenerton passed away peacefully at Brookdale Senior Living in Vacaville, on Nov. 6, at the age of 91. Mrs. Swenerton was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Arthur K. Swenerton, of Fairfield, to whom she was married for over 65 years. She is survived and will be missed by her three sons, Ross (Janet) of Roseville, Earl (Maylien) of Vacaville, and Steven (Debby) of Tijeras, NM, as well as four grandchildren; one grandson-in-law; one grand-daughter-in-law; seven great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson. Helene Roupen was born on Jan. 13, 1925, in Norfolk, VA. In 1942, she graduated from Fremont High School, in Los Angeles, CA. In 1942, while attending college at UC Davis, she met her future husband, Arthur Swenerton, and they were married in Paso Robles, on Oct. 30, 1943. After raising her three sons, she went back to college at UC Davis, where she earned a B.S in Home Economics in 1963, an M.S. in Nutrition in 1965, and a Ph.D. in Nutrition in 1970. During her studies, she worked as a Laboratory Assistant, and as a Teaching and Research Assistant at the UC Davis Department of Nutrition. In 1970, Dr. Swenerton joined the UC Davis Faculty as a Research Nutritionist, in association with renowned Professor Dr. Lucille Hurley. Together, they published what is now considered a classic series of research papers on the effects of zinc deficiency in the diet on mammalian fetal development. In 1972, Dr. Swenerton was appointed a UC Cooperative Extension Specialist in Nutrition, where she served the public with distinction for over 17 years. During that time, she developed and implemented a statewide UC Cooperative Extension program designed to bring nutrition-related research information to local nutrition and health professionals and educators. In addition, she provided leadership in combatting nutrition misinformation and health quackery. Further, she acted for many years as a Nutrition Consultant for Safeway Stores, Inc. Prior to her retirement in 1991, Dr. Swenerton was honored for her work by American Men and Women in Science, Who's Who of American Women and Who's Who in the West. A memorial service for Mrs. Swenerton will be held on Jan. 14, 2017, at 11 a.m., at the Fairfield Funeral Home, 1750 Pennsylvania Ave., Fairfield, 425-1041. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made on her behalf to Sutter Hospice, 2855 Telegraph Ave., Suite 601, Berkeley CA 94705.