John Swick

John M. Swick, 89, of Lake Worth, FL passed away peacefully on October 19, 2015. He was born April 20, 1926 in Warren, PA the son of John C. and Sarah Folwell Swick. He was a 1943 graduate of Warren High School and was ‘volunteered’ into the U.S. Marines in 1944. His service in WWII sparked his love of travel. He was part of a detachment of Marines on the USS Birmingham which took part in the battles of Saipan, Tinian, Guam, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa in 1945. Coming back he received a degree at Washington and Jefferson College (’47) in the Arts and from Massachusetts institute of Technology (ʼ50) in naval architecture. He spent two years working in a shipyard in Sweden. Upon return to the United States he worked many years in Warren as an engineer and then moved to Puerto Rico where he owned a machine tool sales agency for 25 years. While living in Warren he was active in the First Presbyterian Church. As a member of the Barbershopper (SBEBSQSA) for 50 years his activities included a championship quartet, an international judge, a music arranger, and a director of the Sweet Adeline Chorus. John’s love of travel inspired him to take his nieces and nephews on worldwide excursions. Foreign languages intrigued him and he advocated their study. He crossed the equator numerous times and belonged to the Traveler’s Century Club for visiting over 100 countries. He is survived by two brothers, Robert (Janet) Swick of Blacksburg, VA and Richard (Karen) Swick, one sister, Sarah E. Becker, and his good friend, companion and care-giver Joan Harrison and dog, Flash of Lake Worth, FL. Friends and family are invites to call on Friday, October 23, 2015 at Dorsey E. Earl Smith Funeral Home, 3041 Kirk Rd., Lake Worth from 4-5PM with a funeral service to follow. In Lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Warren Historical Society, 210 Fourth Ave, Warren, PA 16365, or the Women of Note, Sweet Adelines Intl-3663 SW Honey Ter., Palm City, FL. 34990. Interment will take place at Oakland Cemetery in Warren, PA.