Frederick Swift

Frederick Swift

Hartford, VT - It is now that our father, Frederick William Swift, 90, has finally ended his long vigil of 20 years and 3 months waiting to meet his beloved wife and our mother in heaven. May they both rest in eternal peace.

Dad was born on December 20th, 1932, in Vassar Hospital, Poughkeepsie, NY, the result of the marriage of Stanley Swift and Elise (Tanner) Swift. These were hard times, the height of the depression and, like everyone else, they struggled to make ends meet. Years later, dad would talk about how poor they were but didn't really realize it at the time because everyone was basically in the same predicament, although; he said there was always a roof over their heads, and he never went to bed hungry.

WWII followed on the heels of the Great Depression, introducing rationing and the crippling of many essential items for everyday life and with virtually all able-bodied men off defending our nation and the world. So, it was of no surprise when dad wanted to join the military upon his high school graduation in June of 1950, the same time that the Korean War broke out. At 17 years old, his mother said no, he could wait until he was 18 years old and join without her consent.

Inducted into the United States Air Force on January 7th, 1951, he embarked on a varied and unique career in the military, culminating with his 4 years of duty at the White House with President Lyndon B. Johnson and another 4 years with President Richard M. Nixon. He was enlisted for 7 years, then commissioned and served as an officer for the next 10 years, after which he was transferred in the United States Army for his last 5 years and retired as a Major with 22 years continuous active duty. January 31st, 1973, along with being awarded The Legion of Meritt.

We children were all "Military Brats" with Scott being born first in Valdosta, GA then followed by Fiona and Kent in Riverside, CA, Shelley in Madrid, Spain and Shawn in Omaha, NE.

Retirement brought us all back to Etna, NH and our maternal roots with the Morris and Ethel Hayes family. The next 9 years saw us five children, finishing school in Hanover and leaving mom and dad with an empty nest. They decided to change their lifestyle and bought an old hillside country farm in Newbury, VT where they proceeded to successfully raise sheep and then alpacas for the next two decades.

Mom's long bout with rheumatoid arthritis ended after nineteen years in May of 2003. Dad stayed on at the farm until 2005 when he teamed up with his cousin Beth and they set out travelling in a motorhome throughout the US and Alaska, Mexico, and Canada. Along the way dad bought a house in Alpine, Texas and later, at the age of 80, personally built a beautiful southwest style home, where he lived from 2014 until returning to Vermont following the death of Kent in May of 2018.

His last years, his golden years as he called them. Were spent putzing around his home in Hartford, Vermont until his last call-to-arms on August 10th, 2023.

There will be a graveside service with military honors on Thursday August 17, 2023 at 11AM at the Lime Kiln Cemetery, Swift Rd, Newbury, VT.

To offer the family an online condolence, please visit www.rickerfh.com

Ricker Funeral Home & Cremation Care of Woodsville is assisting with arrangements.