David Swanson

January 2, 2021

Mr. David T. Swanson, 83, died at the Rouse Home December 30, 2020 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease and other ailments.

He was born August 2, 1937 in Warren, PA, the son of Guy E. and Janet T. Swanson. David graduated from Warren High School in 1955. He served as manager of the football team, working closely with Coach Fred Bell. David prepared scores and highlights of games and sent these to newspapers in Pittsburgh, via Western Union. He was a Boy Scout, with Troop 5, earning the rank of Eagle. He graduated from the University of Cincinnati in Metallurgical Engineering in 1960. He spent his entire career with Sylvania, and successor companies, beginning as a Co-op Student while in college.

He was drafted into the U.S. Army, but returned to work at Sylvania when the Department of Defense intervened, deciding that they would prefer he continue working on defense-related technologies. He held several patents, related to defense and transportation. He was an active member of the First United Methodist Church, serving as usher and member of the Finance Committee.

He was a member of the Warren Jaycees and was one of the team that first built and installed the Christmas lights along the Allegheny River. During the Christmas season, he and his fellow Jaycees sold trees at the Warren Rescue to raise funds, and they took underprivileged children shopping for gifts. He was active for many years in the Jaycees Fourth of July celebrations, getting enough recognition that Miss America attended in 1976, where she enjoyed the Drum Corps Competition.

David also served as President of the Pennsylvania Jaycees. He was a supporter of the Warren County Historical Society. He was a founding member of the Woodchuck Club, a social organization comprised of retired Sylvania employees. Their treatise, Notes from the Underground, is in safe keeping. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, especially deer hunting from the family camp on Swede Hill, built by his father on the family farm in 1949. David enjoyed the people and culture of Warren. He was a loyal son, brother, uncle, and brother-in-law.

He was a wonderful uncle to his nieces, Jenn and Kirsten, always there to help with birthday and holiday activities. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his twin aunts, Mary and Martha Topper, who were very close. He is survived by his brother, Robert E. Swanson, and his wife, Karen, of Albuquerque, NM, his niece, Jenn Swanson, of Albuquerque, NM, and his niece and God Daughter, Kirsten S. Scofield and her husband, Ian Dustin Scofield, of Kent, WA.

A private graveside service will be conducted at the convenience of the family. Those wishing to remember David in a special way may make gifts to the Warren First United Methodist Church, the Warren County Historical Society, or the Warren Public Library.

         

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