Submitted by: Dan Rich

Lorell Swinford

June 14, 1919 - Feb. 11, 2003

South Bend Tribune 2/14/2003

Lorell "Leon" Swinford, 83, of Forestbrook Avenue, South Bend, Ind., died following an illness at 5:36 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11, in Memorial Hospital. Mr. Swinford was born June 14, 1919, in Paris, Ill., to the late Russell R. and Laura M. (Skiver) Swinford, and had lived in South Bend since 1950. On

Feb. 1, 1947, in Terre Haute, Ind., he married Blanche S. Critchfield, who preceded him in death Feb. 27, 2001. He was also preceded in death by a sister, Dorothy Rae Dell; and by two brothers, John A. "Bud" Swinford and Frank Swinford. He is survived by two daughters, Vicki Marlene Hack of Niles, Mich., and Tammy Sue (Walter Boothe) Taberski of South Bend; two sons, Terry Leon Swinford and Russell Ray Swinford, both of South Bend; and five grandchildren, Ryan Keith (Tina) Hack, Corey Matthew (Thu) Hack, Jason Christopher (Amy) Swinford, Jeromy Steven Taberski and Dustin Shane Taberski. Mr. Swinford retired from the brake and steering division of the Bendix Corporation as a setup man in 1981 after 30 years of service. He had been a member of VFW Post #624.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, in the Welsheimer Funeral Home North, 17033 Cleveland Road, with Rev. Edgar D. Erskin of Northway Church of Christ officiating. Burial and military honors will follow at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park, Granger, Ind. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today, Feb. 14, in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, Midwest Affiliate, Memorial & Tributes Program, P.O. Box 88-541, Chicago, IL 60680-1541; or to Hospice of St. Joseph County, 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN 46637.