More detail on this person: Edward Orton Swearingen, ll Edward O. "Skip" Swearingen of Lafayette, LA passed away on 20 May 2017. He was 71 years old. Skip was a native of Chicago who worked for the automobile industry after high school and decided that entering the Army flight program was infinitely better than stamping out car fenders. Skip served as a Warrant Officer with the 4th Infantry in Vietnam. Afterwards he went to Ft. Bragg and was assigned to the 82nd. Upon discharge, Skip went to work as a commercial pilot in Canada. After surviving a weather-related near death experience, Skip traveled to the Gulf Coast and was hired by Air Logistics, Inc in March of 1974. Skip worked for Air Logistics for more than 30 years before losing his medical and giving up flying altogether. He was well respected by his fellow aviators, his customers, and local people who came to know him. Skip worked for a medical laboratory for a short while until he retired for good. His last years were spent enjoying the company of friends and family, and he would phone call all of his friends on Memorial Day, Veterans Day, Independence Day, and Christmas. Once a year he would attend a gathering of current and former Air Logistics personnel in North Louisiana that came to be known as The Shootout, but was really just a 3 day camp out sitting around the camp fire and telling flying stories. Skip Swearingen was very enthusiastic about the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association in the early years. His first Reunion was the 2nd Reunion in Houston. At each reunion that he attended, when the band played "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", Skip could be seen doing the California Raisin Dance with Kenny Bunn, much to the delight of all. He enjoyed just sitting at the bar with his friends, wearing a garrison cap with an airborne patch on it, and recalling the times when we were all 8 ft. tall and bulletproof. Skip is survived by his wife Sandra, daughter Monika, granddaughter Danielle, a brother and sister, and a host of nieces and nephews. Skip was cremated according to his wishes and a memorial service was held on June 3 in Lafayette, LA. ---- published version below LAFAYETTE - A Memorial Service will be held at 12:00PM on Saturday, June 3, 2017 at Delhomme Funeral Home - Bertrand for Edward Orton Swearingen, ll, 71, who passed away on May 20, 2017. Skip, a resident of Lafayette, was the son of the late Edward Swearingen and the former Jean Wyman. He is survived by his wife, Sandra Swearingen; daughter, Monika Swearingen; granddaughter, Danielle Albright; brother, Rick Swearingen and wife, Sue; sister, Laura Retzlaff and husband, David; sisters-in-law, Rebecca Berner and Rochelle Klein as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents. Skip was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He was a veteran of military service having served in the U. S. Army in Vietnam. Skip was a reliable friend and role model to all. He will be dearly missed by his special pen pal, Meghann Swearingen. The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Delhomme Funeral Home - Bertrand on Saturday, June 3, 2017 from 11:00AM to 12:00AM. Personal condolences may be sent to the Swearingen family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com. Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, LA is in charge of funeral arrangements. Published in the The Advertiser on May 31, 2017 Wife found him death on the floor. Very good friend of Kenny Bunn
Burial information: Most likely cremated
This information was last updated 05/25/2017
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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