Clinton Dewayne Swiler's Obituary
Clinton Dewayne Swiler was born on June 13, 1937 to Owen and Naomi (Tallman) Swiler in Chanute, KS. He passed away on October 23, 2016 at Diversicare Health Center where he had resided since June of 2010.
Clinton was saved on July 30, 1949 and baptized on August 6, 1949. He attended a Baptist Church all of his life. He most recently was a member of Bethel Baptist Church of Chanute, until his health failed. He served as song leader and Sunday school teacher. Clinton attended grade school in Shaw, KS and high school and junior college in Chanute and graduated from Kansas State University in 1960 with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering.
Clinton served in the United States Naval Reserve from 1954 – 1962, taking his training at USN E “A” school at Great Lakes Naval Training in Illinois. He received an honorable discharge with a rank of ETN2.
He was married to Joyce L. Hatcliff on August 31, 1958 at the First Baptist Church in Erie, KS, by his grandfather, Rev. Glen Tallman. They later divorced.
Clinton married Barbara J. (McKelvy) Reynolds on October 3, 1982 at South Valley Chapel in rural Chanute. She preceded him in death on January 25, 1987.
He was a member of 4-H & FFA, receiving the State Farmer Degree in 1955. Clinton was very proud of being a life member of the National Rifle Association of America. He also received a Century Farm Award from the Kansas Farm Bureau in recognition of more than 100 years of family farm ownership.
Clinton was employed at General Dynamics/Astro of San Diego, CA; Douglas Aircraft in Tulsa, OK; Aero, Inc. as Instrumentation Design Engineer and Electrical Control Engineer at Tullahoma, TN; and at Boeing Aircraft and Beach Aircraft in Wichita, KS.
He moved back to his home place in Neosho County, near Shaw, KS in 1976, where he farmed and ran a dairy until selling the farm to his nephew, Robert Swiler in January of 1993. Clinton continued to live at his home until January of 2010, when he moved to Diversicare in Chanute. After an accident in 1985 that left him paraplegic, he attended Chanute Junior College to tune up his computer skills and then worked in the Neosho County Clerk’s Office in Erie from 1996-2010.
Clinton is survived by:
Brother:
Glen Swiler and wife Carolyn of Chanute
Step Brother:
Steve McKelvy of Kernersville, North Carolina
Nephews:
Kenneth L. Swiler and wife Lori of Chanute
Bob Swiler and wife Laurie of Erie
Niece:
Deborah Vogts and husband Christopher of Erie
9 Great Nephews & Nieces
7 Great-Great Nephews & Nieces
Numerous Step-Children, Step-Grandchildren & Step-Great-Great Grandchildren
Numerous Step-Nieces & Nephews, Step-Great Nieces & Nephews and Step-Great-Great Nieces & Nephews
Clinton was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Barbara; step mother, Doris (McKelvy) Swiler.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, October 27, 2016 from 7-8 p.m. at Countryside Funeral Home Gibson Chapel on 16 N. Forest in Chanute. A funeral service will be held on Friday, October 28, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at the Gibson Chapel in Chanute, KS. Interment will follow at Shaw Cemetery in Shaw, KS. The Chanute Honor Guard is in charge of military honors. Online condolences may be left at: www.countrysidefh.com. Family request memorials to the Bethel Baptist Church and may be left with or mailed to the funeral home. Services have been entrusted to: Countryside Funeral Home 16 N Forest, Chanute, KS 66720.
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