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Jack Herbert Swafford
Jack Herbert Swafford, Overland Park, Kan., passed away on July 16, 2014, from lung disease complications. He was born in Fort Scott, Kan., on Nov. 13, 1930, son of Ernest and Bertha Swafford. After one year at Fort Scott Junior College, he transferred to Kansas State University where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity, and graduated with a degree in electrical engineering. He joined the Bendix Kansas City division as a project engineer in the defense industry. During the Korean war he served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, returning to Bendix to spend 37 more years in project and engineering management. He served as president of the 800-member Bendix Management Club. Along the way, he earned his Masters degrees in business and engineering. After retirement, he worked as a consultant and adjunct professor in Quality Management at several local MBA programs.
In 1961, Jack married the love of his life, Mary Lynn Stafford, and celebrated 53 years of marriage this year. They have been involved with "Casa Loma," a bi-monthly dinner group of friends from their Kansas City Plaza days.
Jack had a variety of interests. He was involved in music starting in high school, then playing in the KSU marching band, and helped put himself through school playing gigs on the clarinet and saxophone. Most recently he played eight years with the Overland Park Civic Band, "The Little Big Band," and several swing bands which played at retirement homes. He was interested in trains, as he was raised in a three-railroad town and his father was a long-time Frisco telegrapher. Jack constructed wooden model locomotives, wrote published articles on elementary transportation and was an active member of the Sports Car Club of America. He collected stamps and published numerous articles on topical stamp collecting.
Jack gave much of himself to others through volunteer work: Meals on Wheels; St. Joseph Hospital; numerous leadership positions within the Episcopal Church and Episcopal Social Services and as an ombudsman for the State Department of Aging. He was a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church in Overland Park and conducted Bible study sessions for over 30 years. He completed the Education For Ministry program through the School of Theology, The University of the South. He was a member of the Rotary Club and worked on a number of projects and received a number of awards. As a Boy Scout Troop Master he helped numerous young men earn their Eagle award.
He leaves his beloved wife, Mary Lynn, daughter Susan Smithburg and her husband Don of Nolensville, Tenn., daughter Anne Fisher and husband Frank of Stilwell, Kan., son Tom Swafford and wife Maggie of Castle Rock, Colo., and eight grandchildren.
He imparted his deep faith in Christ to his children, his friends and those in whom he came in contact. He'll be remembered for his laughter and smile and fun, creative stories and jokes.
Visitation will be at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Overland Park, Wednesday, July 23, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and the funeral on Thursday at 10 a.m. at the church, with reception following. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the church or the charity of your choice. (Arr: Cremation Society of KS & MO, 8837 Roe Avenue, Prairie Village, KS (913) 383-9888.