Bobby Lee Swinton

Bobby Lee Swinton, 65, of Benton Harbor, transitioned on September 4, 2015 at home with his loving family by his side.Services will take place on Friday, September 11, 2015 at 11:00am at Israelite Baptist Church, 1715 Highland Avenue, Benton Harbor, Michigan 49022. Pastor Johnie Roberts,III will officiate. Burial will take place at Northshore Memory Gardens. He was born December 11, 1949 to Mr. & Mrs. Raymond and Lylie Jones-Swinton. He was one of seven children. He was preceded in death by his parents and four siblings: Dorothy Gene, Raymond Jr., Martha Ann and Mae Joyce.Bobby was born and raised in Kennett, Missouri and attended school and church there. He was an avid outdoorsman and loved hunting and fishing with his older brother Raymond Jr. "June" and cousin John Lee Tipler. Always independent, Bobby left home to join the Army. He served two tours in Vietnam and was honorably discharged.Desiring better opportunities, he moved to Benton Harbor in 1974. Prior to moving, he met a beautiful young woman, Clusteen Collier. On May 14, 1977, Bobby and Clusteen were married. Devoted and as loving as when they first met, she remained his helpmeet and soulmate in sickness and in health. Together they built a life and reared a family. Their faith in each other joined them together but their faith in God, sustained them. They built a home and raised their family. God blessed them with four sons and one daughter. Bobby was a great provider and teacher for his family. He was always a hard worker and took pride in doing a job well. He was honest and believed in telling you the truth. If you didn't want the truth, he was not the person to ask! He worked at Bendix Corporation for over 20 years until his health failed. He was an avid outdoorsman, teaching his family to hunt and fish. He was very knowledgeable about guns and instilled a love and respect for firearms in his wife and children. In his great mercy, God gave Bobby more time to trust and rely on him. He received a kidney transplant that allowed him to experience God as a healer. He often talked of how blessed he was. God raised him up and he served the Lord in the capacity of Deacon for many years. He also cared for his mother's last living sibling, his Aunt Willie Belle until her death in 2013.Bobby kept the faith and finished his course on September 4, 2015. Surrounded by his family, he started his victorious journey home. He leaves to cherish his memory: a devoted and loving wife of 38 years, Clusteen Swinton of Benton Harbor, MI; sons: Chris Conley (Wendy), of Batesville, AR, Misiri Parker, Sr. (Kim), of Zion, IL. Felix Collier (Deborah), of Indianapolis, IN, Raymond Swinton (Ashley ), of Kalamazoo, MI, Carolyn Knox (Jerome), of Grand Rapids, MI, two siblings, William Swinton (Pam), and Lillie Johnson both of Kennett, MO., a special niece Demetra Roberts (Johnie), of St. Louis, Mo, a cousin, Ella "Louise" Tipler of Atlanta, GA, twenty-six grandchildren, a host of nieces, great nieces, nephews, friends and other relatives.