Born
January, 15, 1931, he served his country in
the armed forces around the world for over
twenty years including tours as a
paratrooper, in the Korean War and on remote
assignments in Saudi
Arabia and Turkey. He retired home to Rappahannock in
1970 where he embarked upon a second career
as a successful local businessman and a
civic leader, serving on several local
governmental boards. He held the
commissioned rank of Captain in the Virginia
Defense Force after his retirement from
active military service. He was the last
quarter-master for the Sperryville VFW Post
and was instrumental in overseeing the
planning and construction of the Veteran’s
Memorial in the Sperryville Cemetery in
2007, one of his proudest legacies. In 2008
he was honored with the Daughters of the
American Revolution Community Service Award.
He is
preceded in death by his parents, Addison
Lee and Emma, and a brother Bill. He is
survived by his loving and devoted wife of
over 51 years, Phyllis, a son James E.
Swindler II, two daughters, Natalie Hathaway
and Bobette Swindler, and four
grandchildren; Sara Hathaway, Emma Hathaway,
Addie Swindler and James E. Swindler III. He
is also survived by a brother, Addison Lee
Swindler, Jr., a sister in law, Joan Brown
Swindler, a nephew Michael Lee Swindler, and
a niece Barbara Dawn Swindler. In addition
he is survived by many close relatives on
his wife’s side, particularly his brother
in law Ray Pszenny and his wife Liz and
their three daughters, Theresa, Darlene and
Mary Beth and their families, with whom he
spent many memorable family vacations, and
his brother in law Don Carroll, and his sons
Jim and Ed, and his brother in law Ted
Pszenny and wife Dee.
Family
and friends will be received at the family
home on Thursday, July 1, between 5 and 8
PM. There will be a Memorial service at the Sperryville United Methodist Church on
Friday, July 2 at 11 AM followed by a
graveside internment at the Sperryville Cemetery. In Lieu of flowers the family
asks that donations please be made to the Sperryville Cemetery, especially for upkeep of the
Veteran’s Memorial.