Swank - Floyd "Sam"
Source: obituary in a scrapbook from a collection of Fauniel Hershberger's typed by Walt W
To all that live in the world the inevitable sits on the throne first, and last on birth, and, at death the scepter by the same hand is wielded; for the Holy Record it is spoken, there is a time to be born and a time to die. With the light of opening day, the stars are concealed, so with the dark of closing day, the stars are revealed; because the sun still shines so life still lives after death. Why should the living mourn for the dead, seeing that life can not die. The living lose and their love for the dead occasions heartache and tears. The subject of this sketch was born in Montgomery county, Ind., April 16, 1907, a son of Harry D. and Maud Mathes Swank. The parents named him Floyd Jennings, but among us he was familiarly known as Sam Swank. When 12 years of age he united with the Center Christian church and was a firm and consistent believer in Christ. He played in the band of the 151st Infantry for three years. He graduated from Wingate high school in the year of 1925. He later attended the Indiana Business College at Lafayette and Hammond Business College. Sam was a man of qualities which commanded the esteem and respect of all with whom he came in contact. His health began to fail in 1928. He spent two years in Colorado for his health. He had been seriously ill for the past six months during which time all was done by loving hands to prolong his life, but it was without avail for at 2 p. m., Saturday, Aug. 25, 1934, he passed away at his home at the age of 27 years, 4 months and 9 days, leaving to mourn a devoted mother and father, a sister, Mrs. Bertha Kenyon of Calumet City, Ill.; two brothers, Reuben of New Richmond and Russell, at home; a grandmother, Mrs. Malinda Swank Battroff; a grandfather, Calvin Mathes, and a host of relatives and friends. Beyond the shades of evening The star of Hope is shining; Beyond the clouds of darkness. There gleams a silver lining. Beyond this crushing sorrow The pearly dawn and fair; A beautiful tomorrow Awaits to bless him there.