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| Name: |
Donald B. Swecker
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| Date: |
March 19th, 1920 - February 3rd, 2010
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| Obituary: |
Mr. Donald B. Swecker, age 89 years, died Wednesday, February 03, 2010 at Colonial Place in Elkins. He and his wife Irene, had formerly lived near Huttonsville, WV. Mr. Swecker was born March 19, 1920 on Riffles Creek Road, near Huttonsville, the son of the late Holt and Lucy Kittle Swecker. He graduated from Tygart Valley High School and Potomac State College of West Virginia University. He also attended Davis & Elkins College. In 1941, he enlisted in the United States Army and spent two years in Alaska. From there, he went to the South Pacific, where he saw 187 days of front line combat in New Guinea, Philippines and Okinawa. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, the former Irene Deets of Rowlesburg, WV. Eight children, Mark Swecker and wife Bonnie, of Roanoke Rapids, NC; Edith Votta and husband Richard, of Greensboro, NC; Ben Swecker of Nokesville, VA; Emily Thomasson and husband Ed, of Atlanta, GA; Lisa Poole and husband Jeff, of Crestwood, KY; Kim Swecker & wife Brenda, of Cincinnati, OH; Jeff Swecker and wife Mary, of Albright and Andrew Swecker and wife Tammy, of Mill Creek. Eighteen grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren also survive. Also surviving are two sisters; Arlene Brock, Parsons, WV and Betty Schilling, Johnson City, NY. Also preceding him in death were five brothers and seven sisters; Arling, Clyde, Hazel, Carroll, Freda, Fannie, Eula, Ted, Carrie, Ora, Georgia and Gail. Don spent 33 years in the life insurance business, with Peoples Life Insurance Company, Washington, DC and its parent, Capital Holding Corporation, Louisville, KY. Starting as an agent, he rose thru the ranks to vice president and was a corporate officer of both firms for more than twenty years. In his field of public relations and advertising, he received many national awards and represented the insurance industry as an instructor in communications at the College of William and Mary. He was well known in insurance groups, having served as national executive secretary of the Life Insurance Advertisers Association and the Public Relations Council of Greater Washington. He was a reporter for the Stars and Stripes during the Second World War and won many awards as an editor during his career in life insurance. The author of published poetry and many magazine articles, he retired in the early eighties and moved, with his wife Irene, to his old home place in Huttonsville, where he wrote his book Memories Of A Lifetime.
Don was an Episcopalian and an associate member of Valley Chapel United Methodist Church on Becky’s Creek Road where he served as a lay leader. He spent over thirty years as a church school superintendent and was twice elected chairman of the Monongahela Convocation of Church Laymen (Episcopal). He was active in Tyrand Cooperative Ministries and Valley Health Care Clinic, and was National Director of the Colorado Ranger Horse Association. Friends may call from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM Thursday, February 4, 2010 at the Tomblyn Funeral Home in Elkins. On Friday morning, February 5th, Mr. Swecker will be moved to the Valley Chapel United Methodist Church at Becky’s Creek for visitation from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM the funeral hour. Rev. Bonnie Starkey will officiate and interment will follow in the Brick Church Cemetery near Huttonsville where presentation of the American Flag will be made by members of H.W. Daniels Post 29 American Legion. Memorial contributions may be made to the Valley Chapel United Methodist Church, Rt. 1, Box 42, Huttonsville, WV 26273 or to Mountain Hospice, 1600 Crim Avenue, Belington, WV 26250 in memory of Mr. Swecker. The Tomblyn Funeral Home of Elkins is in charge of the arrangements for Mr. Donald B. Swecker. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.tomblynfuneralhome.com.
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| Memorials: |
Valley Chapel United Methodist Church, Route 1, Box 42, Huttonsville, WV 26273 or Muntain Hospice, 1600 Crim Ave., Belington, WV 26250
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| Cemetery: |
Brick Church Cemetery
Huttonsville, WV 26273 (map/driving directions)
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| Visitations: |
5:00PM to 8:00PM on Thursday, February 4th, 2010 at Tomblyn Funeral Home (map/driving directions)
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| Services: |
In-state at 10:00AM, Service at 11:00AM at Valley Chapel United Methodist Church on Friday, February 5th, 2010 (map/driving directions)
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