Charles Swartz

Charles "Jim" Swartz of Fort Valley, Virginia, passed away at The Maynard in Strasburg on August 31, 2025, at the age of 96. The family will receive friends on Sunday, September 21st, from 1:00 until 2:30 pm at Valley Funeral Service, located at Bowman's Crossing, followed by a memorial service at 2:30 pm. Pastor Wayne Racey will be officiating. Burial will be private.

Jim was the fifth child of nine born to the late Fannie Gochenour and N. Franklin Swartz. He was of the Lutheran faith and enjoyed attending special events at Oak Level Methodist Church in Fort Valley. Jim graduated from Woodstock High School in 1948 and enlisted in the Air Force in 1950. He married Ruby Clem in 1951 and celebrated 70 years of marriage before Ruby passed in 2022. After serving for 3 years, Jim started a job on the Virginia Tech Experimental Farm in Middleburg, Virginia. While living there, he served as a Commander of the American Legion Post 295 and as a president of the Middleburg Fire and Rescue. In 1990, he retired and moved to Fort Valley where he transferred his membership to the American Legion Post 199 of Woodstock. Jim divided his free time between drinking coffee with the Liar's Club at McDonald's in Woodstock, playing golf at the local courses, and duckpin bowling in Mt. Jackson. Until he was no longer able, he also planted and maintained a large vegetable garden.

Along with his parents, Jim was preceded in death by his wife Ruby, his brother Ralph and his wife Joyce of Colorado, his brother Harold and his wife Charlotte of Woodstock, his brother Jack of Florida, and his brother Calvin of Edinburg. He was also preceded in death by his sister Mary Alice and her husband Ralph of Edinburg, his sister Helen Mowery and her husband John of Arizona, his sister Shelva Jean Pingley of Stephens City, his brother-in-law Rev. Auburn Bowers of Pulaski, Virginia, and step-grandson Andrew Miller of Winchester.

Jim is survived by his daughter Adina McInturff and her husband Gary of Fort Valley, his daughter Paula Gleaton and her husband John of North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, his son Michael Swartz of Hampshire County in West Virginia, and a special furball named Kitty. He is also survived by a sister Betty Bowers of Pulaski, Virginia, sisters-in-law Delores Swartz of Florida, Katrena Swartz of Edinburg, Claudette Munch of Woodstock, brother-in-law Leon Clem and his wife Jan of Woodstock, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews too numerous to mention.

In honor of his furball Kitty, memorial contributions may be made to: Furry Friends Rescue at 486 North Main Street Woodstock, VA 22664 or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Danny Thomas Place Memphis, TN 38105.

Online condolences may be left at www.valleyfs.com

Arrangements by Heishman Funeral Home Inc., Valley Funeral Service Branch, Edinburg.