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Raymond Lee Swadley
1927 - 2016
Raymond Lee Swadley
1927 - 2016
Obituary
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Raymond Swadley Obituary
Age: 89 • Mt. Sidney
Raymond Lee Swadley, D. Ed., 89, a resident of Mt. Sidney passed away on December 20, 2016.
He was born on April 6, 1927 in Brandywine, WV, the son of the late Ruth Swadley Spates.
Raymond attended the Propst one room schoolhouse and graduated from Franklin High School. He served in the US Navy. After his discharge he obtained a BS from West Virginia University. While a school teacher in Green Bank, WV he also started his family. The family relocated to Ocean View, De. and Ray studied for a MS from Cornell University. He continued his education and earned a D.Ed. from University of Sarasota. He was a middle school and high school principal in Easton, Md. while supporting a family restaurant. In retirement, he moved to Mt. Sidney, Va.
Throughout his life he was an active member of numerous civic organizations including Lions Club where he served as District Governor in Easton, Md. & Weyers Cave, Va. ; WVU Alumni Assoc., VFW and American Legion participating in parades, Antique Car Club, Moose Lodge and the United Methodist Church.
He became a master waterfowl carver and exhibitor, trustee to the Swadley family, gardener, hunter, traveler and friend to many!
He was preceded in death by two wives, Vera Keck Swadley and Lena Wiseman Swadley; and a sister, Mary June Liskey.
He is survived by daughter, Deborah S. Engel and her husband, Kenneth, daughter Roberta A. Lewis, and a son, Stephen L. Swadley and wife, Pamm; grandchildren, Sarah P. Engel, Tyler P. Lewis, Stephanie L. and BethAnn Swadley, Esq.; step-daughter, Mary Jane Hardy and her husband, John, and their children, Stephan Hardy and Terri Rogers; step-daughter, Crystal Galvin and her husband Donald, and their children, DeWayne, Gavin and Crysta Cox.
A funeral service will be held 11:00 am, Thursday, January 5, 2017 at Lindsey Funeral Home in Weyers Cave with Pastor Russell Heinrich officiating. Military honors will be performed by the Dayton American Legion Post #27 and the family will receive friends following the service.
A graveside service will be on 11:00 am, Friday, January 6, 2017 at Pine Hill Cemetery in Brandywine, WV.
Memorial contributions may be made: Weyers Cave Lions Club, Virginia Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Central & Western Va. Chapter Alzheimer's Association
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.lindseyweyerscave.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Scott Peach, Sr.
April 23, 2017
Just learned of Raymond's passing. We met in 1990 at the Virginia Outdoor Sportsman Show in Richmond, VA. I was running the Decoy Contest for the show and Raymond entered some of his work. What a gentleman and talented artist he was. I met him at other contests and shows in the following years. He was a pleasure to be around and this world sure could use more like Raymond.
Rest in peace my friend and may God bless the Swadley family.
Justin Rexrode
January 9, 2017
Mr. Swadley and I met through the Weyers Cave Lions club. He was the one that had got me started in the organization. The story that always seems to stand out amongst the others when I think about him is the time that he drove me to the Broadway Lions club meeting. We drove down to Mt. Sidney to pick up Lena. Not only did Mr. Swadley go to the door to greet her, he also held her hand to her car door, then proceeded to open it for her. Now, being a millennial, that is a piece that is lost with my generation. I can only wish that more younger folks would've had an opportunity to see how Mr. Swadley cared for the woman that he loved. Mr. Swadley was a great man, and he will be greatly missed.
Michael Parrott
January 6, 2017
I only knew Ray for a short period of time, but I quickly realized he was as genuine as they come and a true gentleman to all. I am truly a better person for knowing him and his family.
Ross Liskey
January 5, 2017
You will be sadly missed. I love you uncle ray. You was a good uncle.
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January 4, 2017
We send our sympathy and our thoughts are with the family of lion Ray Swadley in this time of sorrow. To a really special person.
New Market Lions Club
Patricia Crider
January 3, 2017
Our thoughts and prayers are with your family.
Patricia Smith Crider
Don Swadley
January 1, 2017
My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.
December 31, 2016
May God's loving kindness comfort you and help you through this sad time Psalms 29:11
charles sheets
December 23, 2016
I just found out that Lion PDG twice Raymond Swadley passed. He lived the Lions mottoo, WE SERVE. I had sent him a Christmas note wishing him good health for 2017. We invited Raymond to attend Durbin Lions where he first joined lions in 1952, this past April. We had the good fortune of a surprise meeting in Hawaii at the International Lions convention in 2015. Lions have lost another valuable member and we send condolence to the Swadley family and friends.
PDG Charles Sheets & Carolyn
rex greaver
December 23, 2016
Raymond was a member of an organization we both belonged to is how I met him. I consider him one of the nicest individuals I ever met and I will miss seeing him at the club. He will be missed by everyone who knew him. Rest in peace Raymond.
Rex and Joyce Greaver
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982 Keezletown Road, Weyers Cave, VA 24486
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