Rev. Mike Swanton

SWANTON Rev. Mike Swanton, 56, the minister of Trinity United Methodist Church in Spencerville, near Lima, died 7:26 p.m. Tuesday in the Saint Rita's Medical Center in Lima. He was born August 24, 1948 in Dayton, a son of Jack E. and Frances L. "Nana" Rollins Swanton, who survives in Kettering. He married Marjorie K. Kendall on June 5, 1971 and she survives, along with 1 daughter, Laura M. (Billy Garrett) Swanton Garrett of Chicago; 1 son, Aaron J. Swanton of Chicago; 1 brother, Jeffrey C. (Chonda) Swanton of Miamisburg, Oh.; his aunt, Pauline Green of Huber Heights, Oh.; and favorite cousins, Jim Green of Dayton and Barb Andrews of Huber Heights; and several nieces and nephews. Since 1974 Rev. Swanton served Christ in 6 Methodist Churches in Ohio. He was serving also as the President of the Spencerville Ministerial Assn. He was a 1966 graduate of the Belmont High School in Dayton, a 1970 graduate of Otterbein College in Westerville and a 1976 graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Ky., where he earned his Master of Divinity degree. Funeral service will be 1 p.m. Friday in the Trinity United Methodist Church in Spencerville. Revs. Ron Lee and Tom Shobe officiating. Burial will be 11 a.m. Saturday in the Glen Haven Memorial Park Cemetery near New Carlisle, Oh. Friends may call 2-5 and 7-9 p.m. Thursday at the THOMAS E. BAYLIFF FUNERAL HOME, Spencerville. Memorials may be made to the West Ohio Conference Council of Development for North Katanga Partnership in care of the funeral home at 728 E. Fourth St., Spencerville, Oh. 45887.