J a m e s “Jim” R. Swank, 86, of Dale, passed away at the Marietta Memorial Hospital on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, with his great-grandson Paul Sagowitz by his side.
He was born on May 17, 1934, in Reinersville, to the late Roy G. and Bessie Adkins Swank.
In his early life Jim enjoyed fast cars, playing basketball in high school, and was the President of his local 4-H Chapter. In 1952 James joined the United States Navy and served in the Korean War on the USS Helena. After serving honorably in the Navy, Jim soon met and married the love of his life Gladys, and went on to have a marriage lasting 64 years. Jim resumed work at Hoosiers Engineering Company and then to L. E. Myers where he had a long and distinguished career working and supervising large transfer power line construction across much of the country. Jim was a member of the IBEW Union for 69 years, starting with Local #981 and then to Local #71. Jim retired in 1995 to a quiet life of farming and became a much-loved full-time member of the Dale community. Anyone who knew Jim would say that he was one of the hardest working and kind-hearted people you would ever know. He set a great example and through that, he impacted countless lives with his lessons.
Jim is survived by his wife, Gladys Craig Swank of the home; his brother, Donald and Ina Swank, of Dale; a sister, Doris Edman, of Parkersburg, West Virginia; his many nieces and nephews of the Swank family; daughter-in-law, Patricia “Jane” Potter, and two grand-daughters, Violet Potter (Jill Jacoby) and Robbin Crofut, and the extended Potter family; the Sagowitz family, of Dale; and his faithful handyman and farmhands, Steve Peirce and Derick Reynolds.
He is preceded in death by his parents; a son, Roy Potter; a brother, Wilbur Swank; six sisters, Margaret Brownrigg, Mildred Shuster, Sarah Oliver and Ruth Smith, his beloved “Katie” Katherine Rex and Pearl Soffron; grandsons, James and Dewayne Potter; and a great-granddaughter, Chelsea Sagowitz.
The family would like to thank the many members of the Dale community who have been a part of Jim’s life, the Waite family, and also thanks to the wonderful staff from Marietta Hospice Care.
A graveside service was held Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020, at the Dale Cemetery. All were welcome to attend. After the service, a celebration of life was held at the Tabor Ridge Church of Christ.
Stone-Matheney Funeral Home in Chesterhill is handling the arrangements.
To send a note of condolence to the family go to www.matheneyfh.com.
