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Kelso-Cornelius Funeral Home - Chambersburg

725 Norland Avenue

Chambersburg, Pennsylvania

Kenneth Swartz Obituary

Kenneth D. Swartz, age 73, of Chambersburg, passed away June 15, 2009 at Chambersburg Hospital after a courageous battle with lung cancer for over five years. He was born February 28, 1936 in Grove City, Pa. to Kenneth and Clara (Gregory) Swartz. He was married to Lena DeToma Swartz on May 9, 1959. Kenneth was retired from the Pa. Bureau of Forestry after working forty years, having served as the District Forester of Michaux State Forest since 1970 until his retirement in 1998. He was a member of St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church in Orrtanna, Life member of Pa. Forestry Association, Fellow of Society of American Foresters, Pa. Assoc. of Retired State Employees, National Wild Turkey Federation, NRA, Life Member of Pa. Forest Fire Museum Association, and was a board member of Vision Quest. He was awarded the Distinguished Fellows Award from Penn State Mont Alto in June of 2008. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather who dedicated his life to the preservation of natural resources.
He is survived by his wife, Lena DeToma Swartz and their three daughters: Tina (wife of Gerry) Lindner of Bel Air, Md., Elaine (wife of Joe) Durovey of Palmyra, Va., and Kenda (wife of Scott Pepper) Swartz of Santa Cruz, Ca.. Ken has six grandchildren: Jaime Pepper, Julie, Cole and Graham Lindner, Ava & Tess Durovey. He is also survived by a brother, Kirk E. Swartz of Gettysburg. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother Bruce W. Swartz.
A funeral mass will be celebrated on Saturday June 20th at 10:00 AM at St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church, 1095 Church Road, Orrtanna, Pa. 17353 with Father Kenneth Smith officiating. The family will receive friends Friday evening from 6:00 till 9:00 Pm at the Kelso-Cornelius Funeral Home, Ltd., Chambersburg. Interment will be held at St. Ignatius Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be sent to Penn State Mont Alto, Commemorative tree for the Arboretum Fund, One Campus Drive, Mont Alto, Pa. 17237. Kelso-Cornelius Funeral Home, 725 Norland Ave, Chambersburg, PA will be handling the arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed at kelso-corneliusfuneralhomes.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Public Opinion from Jun. 16 to Jun. 18, 2009.

Memories and Condolences
for Kenneth Swartz

Not sure what to say?





June 26, 2009

Dear Swartz Family

Please acceptmy sympathy.Kenny wa my cousinand even though I had not seen him in years we spoke on the phone. I
will miss him

Gerry Swarz

June 20, 2009

Dear Lena,

So sorry for your loss. Dick and I send our sincere condolences.

Ruth (Wert) Seneca

Karen Edwards(Swartz)

June 19, 2009

Dear Lena and daughters, I am Ken's cousin on his father's side. He and I had recently reconnected and exchanged old family pictures. I have many fond memories of when our families spent time together when we were children. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.

Lana Seay

June 18, 2009

To Mrs. Swartz and daughters, I'm a DCNR employee and I've met Ken In 1998 at a retirement party. We've spoken on the phone on work-related issues prior to his retirement. He's witty and very upbeat and he will be sadly missed. You and your family are in my prayers.

June 17, 2009

Please accept my deepest sympathy. My late husband worked with him
at PA Forestry. He will be missed.
God Bless,
Mrs. Arthur Creelman (Boiling Springs)

June 17, 2009

Dear Family Swartz,

It is difficult to express the sadness I feel for the loss of Ken Swartz, a man I respected, admired and loved.
He accepted me as his "son" and I can now only hope he felt my appreciation in 1998 when he drove me to BWI after his retirement party and I found the courage to finally tell him: " I Love you Dad".

With deepest sympathy,
"John" Perez

Heather Lum

June 17, 2009

Dear Kenda, Elaine, Tina, and Mrs. Swartz,
Please accept my condolences. I have vivid memories of Mr. Swartz coming to our elementary school to talk about taking care of our forests, visiting his office with Kenda to pick up Smokey the Bear stickers, and many fond memories of spending time with the whole Swartz family.

Sincerely,
Heather

Donald Fry

June 17, 2009

Please accept my sincere sympathy. I enjoyed traveling with Ken when driving cars for H&H. He will be missed.

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Funeral services provided by:

Kelso-Cornelius Funeral Home - Chambersburg

725 Norland Avenue, Chambersburg, PA 17201

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