Obituary of Paul R. Swanson, 86

Paul R. Swanson, 86, of State College, died Saturday, June 13, 2009, at Mount Nittany Medical Center.

Born October 27, 1922, in Greenfield, MA, he was a son of the late Sakeus and Anna (Nelson) Swanson.

On October 25, 1952, in Valley Forge, PA, he married Harriet Rhoad, who survives him.

Paul was an Army Veteran serving in the Corp of Engineers during WWII and the Korean War. He was in the Battle of the Bulge and earned Good Conduct and Victory Medals and two Theatre Campaign Ribbons. He was discharged as a 2nd Lieutenant.

Mr. Swanson was a 1951 graduate of the Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, graduating as a Metallurgical Engineer. He was employed as an engineer at Gorham Manufacturing Company in RI, and C. I. Hayes Furnaces in MA. Upon moving to State College, he worked as a clerk at the State College Post Office, retiring in 1979 after 20 years of service.

He was a member of St. Andrew�s Episcopal Church and sang in the Nittany Knights Chorus in State College. In his younger years he enjoyed track and downhill skiing. He also loved history, especially about the past presidents.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter Karen Ugliuzza (Louis) of Wyalusing, PA; three sons: S. Timothy Swanson (Margaret) of Cape May, NJ, Paul Daniel Swanson (Jill) of Boalsburg and Kenneth C. Swanson (Bethany) of Peekskill, NY; a brother Conrad Swanson of East Greenwich, RI; a sister Beatrice Pedersen of Simi Valley, CA, and five grandchildren: Nicholas and Adam Ugliuzza, Eva, Aubrey and Ian Swanson.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Eleanor Aiken.

Visitation will be 7-9 PM Tuesday, June 16, 2009, at the Mark D. Heintzelman Funeral Home, 1034 Benner Pike, State College. Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at 11 AM at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Centre County Memorial Park with military honors.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 501 Howard Avenue, Suite 101, Altoona, PA 16601 or to Centre Homecare, 2437 Commercial Blvd, State College, PA 16801.

A guest book can be signed or condolences sent to the family at www.heintzelmanfuneralhome.com