Mr. James Pasco Sweat Sr.

James Pasco Sweat, January 28, 1921 - December 16, 2014 James Pasco Sweat, son of Bethel and Susan Sweat. Brother of the late Merle Watts. Born at home in Balm, Florida, Pasco graduated from Wimauma High school, one of a class of eight students. He then attended Tampa Business College. Pasco was married for 53 years to the former Mary Elizabeth Anderson, the mother of his children, who passed away in 1998. Pasco was a Navy veteran who served during World War II and, after a four year tour of active duty, remained in the Naval Reserves for 29 years retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. A graduate of the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, Pasco began a life-long devotion to UF among his children and grandchildren. After retiring in 1981 from Florida Steel Corporation he returned to Balm, where he continued the citrus business begun by his father. He is survived by his devoted and loving wife, Emma Lee Sweat, his elder sister, Anna Tyler, his daughter, Sandra Elizabeth Malphurs and her husband John, sons James Pasco Sweat, Jr, Richard Alan Sweat and his wife Karen and his grandchildren, Allison Elizabeth Haettich and her husband Eric, Carolyn Anne Malphurs, Nicklaus James Sweat and his wife, Brittany, and David Alan Sweat. Pasco adored his family and loved flying his Cessna 172. A memorial service for Pasco will be held Friday at Blount & Curry Funeral Home, Tampa, at 1:00 PM and he will be laid to rest in Fellowship Cemetery in Wimauma. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the LifePath Hospice of Hillsborough County-Burgundy Team.