Ronald Alden Swain

Ronald Alden Swain
Visitation: 4:00 - 6:00 p.m., Friday, February 16, 2024
Location: Weymouth Funeral Home
Celebration of Life: 2:00 p.m., Saturday, February 17, 2024
Location: First Baptist Church Newport News
Ronald Alden Swain, affectionately known as Ron, passed away on Saturday, February 10, 2024. He was born to Sarah and Alden Swain. His father, Alden, who served as a Sergeant with the 33rd Service Command, Coast Artillery, U.S. Army during World War II, passed away on March 30, 1947. Sarah later married D. Dale Phillippi, and Ron's sister, Patty Farmer completed the family.
Ron grew up in the town of Harrington in Delaware. After graduating salutatorian from Harrington High School in 1962, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to attend Georgia Institute of Technology. In 1963, he married his beloved, Gloria Sue Schaper (affectionately known as Sue), and they set up housekeeping in Atlanta while Ron finished his degree. Their daughter, Carissa Lynn, joined their little family in the middle of final exams in June 1964. Ron was awarded his Bachelor in Electrical Engineering on June 11, 1966, after which the family moved to Huntsville, Alabama, where he began his career at Boeing Company working on the Saturn 5 program. His son David Michael Swain (affectionately known as Mike or Swamy), joined the family in 1966. In 1967, the family moved to Newport News, Virginia, as Ron joined the submarine engineering team at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co.
In the years since, Ron thrived in and contributed to the community of Newport News. He and Sue have been members of three churches in the area; Deer Park Baptist, North Riverside Baptist, and First Baptist. They threw their hearts into all three in service to God as worshipers, and as deacons, teachers, part of the leadership teams, and countless other volunteer offerings. Ron sang beautifully and was a member of the choirs at times. He was also a part of the USS Newport News Liaison Committee, focused on supporting a continuing relationship between the USS Newport News and the City of Newport News. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) counted him as a member and past president.
In addition to the nickname Ron, he was also known as Daddy, Dad, and Granddaddy. His first and most sacred duty was as husband to Sue, but his delight and blessing was being a father and grandfather. In addition to his children, Carissa and Mike and Mike's wife, Barbara Colburn Swain; he was surrounded by grandchildren, Cody Flesher, Jonas Flesher, Skye Swain, Jonathan Swain, and Meredith Swain; step-grandchildren, Sophie Ahava and Ari Ahava also held a special place in his heart. His loving capacity as a father figure extended also to many foster children in the earlier years of his marriage, as well as to many in the church and wider community who looked up to him and considered him a mentor. He was also a much-loved older brother and uncle to his sister, Patty Farmer, along with her husband, Robert; their daughter, Chrissy Jones and her husband, Steve Jones, and their children, Alli and Asher; and to his sister-in-law, Jacquelyn Schaper.
Ron was a voracious reader and loved jazz and classical music. He also loved poetry, especially the unconventional work of e.e. cummings. If he could share one thing with you right now, his family bets it would be to go read poetry, or listen to some good music, or pick up a book and get lost in its story. Above all, as someone who loved fiercely and was fiercely loved, he would tell you, "Love one another."
A Visitation will be held from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. on Friday, February 16, 2024 at Weymouth Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life ceremony will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 17, 2024 at First Baptist Church, 12716 Warwick Boulevard in Newport News. Please consider a donation to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105) or to the Compassion Ministry Fund at First Baptist Church, Newport News. Arrangements by Weymouth Funeral Home.