Obituary of John J. Swords , 86

John (Jack) Joseph Swords, 86, of State College died Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at The Fairways at Brookline Village.

Born on November 26, 1924 in New York City, he was the son of the late Thomas and Lucy Swords. On July 17, 1948, he married Marion Bauernfeind in Callicoon, New York, who survives. Jack is also survived by a son, Michael Swords (Vivian) of Stafford, VA and a daughter, Stephanie Lovell (Timothy) of Boalsburg. Jack has five grandchildren: Molly, Katy and John Swords, and Andrew and Colin Lovell. Jack attended Cornell University and received his BS Degree in Mathematics from Hobart College and a Masters Degree in Education from Penn State.

Jack served in the US military for twenty-six years, in the United States Navy in the Pacific theater during World War II. He served in the United States Marine Corps from 1948 until 1969; including combat operations in Korea, Lebanon, the Dominican Republic and Southeast Asia, retiring as a Lt. Col. in 1969. His military awards include the Silver Star and Purple Heart.

Following his military retirement, Jack worked at Penn State University as the Assistant to the Vice President of Student Affairs, as well as the Director of Veterans Affairs, where he was an incredible student advocate.

After his retirement from Penn State, Jack remained active in the community, founding the Lion Linksters, an organization supporting Penn State’s varsity golf teams. He was an enthusiastic supporter of Penn State athletics. Jack was an active participant in several Penn State golf leagues. He was a member of the Nittany Amateur Radio Club and a life member of the State College Elks Club, the VFW and the American Legion.

Jack was an avid athlete, lettering in baseball and boxing at Hobart College. He played baseball for the Marine Corps at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and continued his love of baseball, coaching and mentoring in various youth leagues, all of his life. Jack enjoyed flying his Piper Cherokee and sunny days would see him in the skies of the Centre Region. Jack worshiped at the State College Evangelical Free Church.

The viewing will be held at Koch Funeral Home on Thursday, March 17 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. His funeral services will be at the State College Evangelical Free Church on Friday, March 18 at 10:30 am. Subsequent interment with military honors will be at Arlington National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Jack’s memory can be made to Toys for Tots at www.toysfortots.org or to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation at 18251 Quantico Gateway Drive, Triangle, VA 22172.