Leonard Frederick William SWIFT

SWIFT, Leonard Frederick William: July 10, 1925 (Red Deer) - March 14, 2022 (West Kelowna) Leonard "Len" Swift, pilot extraordinaire, made his final departure on March 14, 2022, at 15:15. As always, he did this on his own terms with dignity and strength, with his 5 children by his side. Len was born in Red Deer Alberta, the son of Percy and Thelma (Talbott) Swift. In the 1930s the family moved to Rossland BC, and Len always considered Rossland his hometown. He is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 75 years, Lorraine Swift (née Santori), five children Bob (Judith), Carol (Bill), Coleen (Dean), Susan (Roger), and Ken (Sandy). Len leaves a legacy of 10 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. "All because two people fell in love." He is also survived by his brother, Don and predeceased by his sister, Lorraine Scott. Len had a long career as a pilot in the RCAF. During the 1950s he was a flight instructor at RCAF bases in Centralia, Ontario, Gimli and Winnipeg, Manitoba. In the 1960s he transferred to 436 Transport Squadron where he piloted C-130 transports out of bases in Toronto (Downsview) and Ottawa (Uplands). He flew missions to NATO bases in Europe and United Nations missions to Cyprus and the Congo, as well as other missions around the world. His children loved being air force brats. Their lives were enriched by the opportunity to live in different places in Canada, and they remember with fondness "slide shows", when Dad would describe his travels while showing photographs he had taken. After his retirement from the Air Force Len had several private-sector aviation jobs - as an Air Carrier Inspector with Transport Canada, as Chief Pilot with Northwest Territorial Airways and as a senior pilot with Southern Frontier Airlines. Len was a natural athlete, and particularly loved golf and curling, both as a participant and a spectator. He loved the camaraderie and friendships he gained and was a proud member of The International Order of Old Bastards. His sense of community led him to several volunteer positions, which included the BC Winter Games in 2016 at the age of 90. In March of 2020 as one of the "Red Wine Boys" he threw the opening rock at the BC Interior Curling Tournament in Penticton. His love of flying continued into retirement as he worked with the Penticton Flying Club, both as a pilot and flight instructor. Len's Celebration of Life will be held in early summer in Penticton, BC. The family wishes to extend their sincere thanks to the medical teams that supported Len, including Dr. Laura Shaw and the staff at the BC Cancer Clinic, Dr. Tim Bintley, the Palliative Nurses Team, the staff at West Kelowna Health Clinic, Kelowna Hospice House, and MAID team. You are truly angels. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to one of the following charities that Len supported: BC Lung Association, (www.lung.ca) Cancer Research Society (www.cancerresearchsociety.ca) Canadian Red Cross (www.redcross.ca) TB Vets Charitable Foundation (www.tbvets.org) Canadian War Museum (www.warmuseum.ca) Variety, the Children's Charity (www.variety.bc.ca) Your Local Food Bank (www.cofoodbank.com) Per ardua ad astra Onus portamus Arrangements are in the care of Everden Rust Funeral Services & Crematorium, West Kelowna Arrangement Centre (250-768-8925). Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.everdenrust.com.