Grampa, my best friend, also my hero! I remember taking the bus home from work and I was thinking to myself how gramma told me some where a long the lines you did not have much more time and my heart began to feel so very heavy. About 20 minutes go by and I received that call. My heart is so broken you are gone as I was never able to make you as proud as I have wanted to. I am happy I finally moved into my new place! I am happy I was able to call you and tell you how good it was going and able to hear your smile through the phone rather than frustration. I will never forget how many times you have been there for Adrion and I and of course everyone in the family. I can say with all of my heart I trusted you with my entire life. I love you and miss you so much. I find days where I just want to call you and hear your smile more,  get advise whether I should take this or that route and I just can't. You were and are an amazing man that will forever be in my heart. I wish I could of given you the world in return. Some of the best memories were living right across the street from you and gramma and being able to walk across the street to be with my favorite people. I will never forget our very long car rides and listening to all of your oldies on the radio and talk stations, able to have so many conversations! Or hearing your coffee maker that gramma preset the night before, every single morning, I miss the routines you and gramma shared, I miss yard saleing even though I was annoyed getting up that early Id do it all over again and again lol. I love you grampa. I hope to truly see you again. I miss you so much! Rest in paradise grampa. 🙏

Dads last picture with:  Rob, Dawn, Meagan, Justin, Nick and Mom
(Faith was at work)....

Part 3....(last one)

When we finally got dad home for his final week with us on this earth, we shared some very personal details, his sorrows, regrets, frustrations, and disappointments…..but the one thing he did share, which I had been waiting to hear for some time – was that he was pleased and loved me.  He then asked that Dawn and I look out for mom and take care of her, and at no expense, protect her as she lives out the rest of her life.  The torch was then passed.  
The day of his passing, I felt the need to leave work early, and upon my arrival at home, both Dawn and I went downstairs to check in on him;  as we entered the room, he had been trying to get out of his chair and into bed (mom was trying to hold him back, until she could call us)….Dawn and I helped him into bed, and as we did - we then watched him draw his last few breaths chanting,  “Home……Home….”    

They say that when someone passes away, and they are at this point in passing, that the “Veil from our world into Heaven, is the thinnest it will ever be.”   To know that Dad was at the doorstep of Heaven at that moment, and we were present to see him go Home.   

I feel truly blessed to have been able to be there with my wife and mom, to watch this awesome man go from this world, into the next, to enjoy his  eternal life and to be pain free; living with our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ forever.   Until we can join him there one day.   

Jesus said…”I am the resurrection and the life.  Those who believe in Me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.”  John 11: 25-26


Part 2....

When we sat with Dad in the doctor’s office to receive the news, it was the roughest time of our lives; however, he knew that he was not alone.  Mom, Dawn and I made sure that his every need was met:  rides, medicine, supplies, business and shopping.   This was not just an illness he suffered alone, but a burden on all of us.   
With Dad’s illness and his fight to live, it gave me great satisfaction to be able to be there for him and mom, to oversee their needs.   Dawn was also an instrumental part in the process, as she took it upon herself to be dad’s personal medical consult and researcher.  She looked up all medical treatments, symptoms and was his sounding board.  He took great comfort in her being with him during this time as hit gave him comfort.   There was not a day that would go by where I would not be checking in on him (either by call or walking down to his place).   He came to expect it and I believe that was the pinnacle of our “Father & Son” relationship.   
While he was in the hospital, I learned about a Bible that was “Leaking Oil”, from my son Nick, and there was no explanation for it.  The only information we had was that believers were going to the location to obtain a vile of the oil for healing purposes.   I took a day off from work 3 weeks prior to his passing, I went to Dalton, GA and obtained the “oil” and that same night, Dad allowed me to pray over him and anointed him with it.  Even though it did not provide the “Miracle” cure, I believe that it saved him for the next life – as he  was talking to “religious figures” his last week.  


Where to begin…then, where to stop.   I’ve been trying to find all the right words, memories and thoughts to share, but there are just so many; so, with that said, I will go from the heart and most recent.
My fondest moment was the day when mom & dad agreed and decided to move to TN with Dawn and I, to begin their “new life”.   Dad & I were never as close back in the day, but when the move was complete, we were inseparable.   The home we purchased was filled with love and activities that will be cherished forever.  Dad loved to mow the lawn, take his long walks, yard sale and we added storage units for our businesses.   Dad also enjoyed the fact that with living in TN, this would make his vacations to New England and Florida much easier.
Dad mentored Dawn and I in the ways of Amazon, and we were able to grow a successful business for 3 years that generated great returns.  We eventually had to close the business due to Amazon fees and costs to run the business.  Dad had hoped that we could have merged the businesses and together have built an empire.  Sadly, I was burnt out working three (3) jobs and he understood.  
During the past 8 years, Dad knew that he was “loved” by his family, extended family and grandchildren.  We shared many sentimental moments, cook outs, celebrations, holidays and parties together.   Dad always wanted to help financially, but we always refused the help; we told him that he was to just be present and enjoy the occasion.  Dad always felt that we gave him way too much in the way of gifts, but there is no amount that we could ever put on a life, or a value for what he meant to us physically and  he knew that and appreciated it all.

Part 1.....

Thank you for being the best Grandpa and always being here for us! We love you and miss you dearly!

I have many memories of Dave,  especially of the night Rob was 
 born. They would not let us stay at the hospital so went home and talked all night long until we got the call that David had a healthy baby boy and that Mom was doing well. It was one of the greatest night’s of my life.

There are so many memories and we will cherish them all.  Thank you David.

Love - Cathy & Norm

I have many memories of Dave,  especially of the night Rob was  born. They would not let us stay at the hospital - so we went home and talked all night long until we got the call that David had a healthy baby boy and that Mom was doing well. It was one of the greatest night’s of my life.  

Thank you for all of the memories we shared!!  

Love 
Cathy & Norm

It was a sad day when the Swords moved out of the neighborhood!
We have so many memories, that I'm sure I'll forget a few, but here goes.
Neighborhood Holidays, cooking and eating together, poker nights, yard saleing together, horseshoes till all hours of the night, sharing highs and lows, dreams and failures. Dave was a very, very, very good person! He always smiled. He always helped anyone that he could. And he always disappeared on Sunday afternoons to watch Star Trek! He now has the biggest screen anywhere and hopefully is catching up on reruns! Miss you my friend!

Says to leave a memory or a message,  well here's both.  When it comes to memories there is just so many, but here's a few: my dad should have been a truck driver,  he could out drive the best of us for hours. What I really loved was when he wanted something, damn it he got it lol like a new vehicle.  My mom would be upset at first but then would fall in love with it also.  My dad had the biggest heart that I have ever seen next to my mom.  They'd give the shirts off their backs to help someone.  No matter what, or have done they would always have mine and my brothers backs.  Most of the time they would not agree with what we've done or said but they stood behind us with unconditional love that I til this very day will not understand how or why, and I can only pray, wish,  that I was even half the person that they were. There is so many things that I regret not saying, or doing for these 2 amazing loving people that I only hope that he knew everytime I talked to him just how much I loved him and that I could not,  in a million years pay them back for the kindness, grace, mercy, and unconditional forgiveness they have given me.  Not many people would be able to beat my dad and I when it came to playing horseshoes,  we were the champions of the neighborhood.  It gave me great pleasure when I was able to buy him his motorcycle so we could go riding in the evening,  all the yard sales that we'd go to and most weekends triple our money. My old man in my eyes and heart is and always will be my hero.  He's everything that a man should be and more.  I say all it takes in this world to be able to make it is a little common sense,  well my dad set the bar high,  his knowledge, intelligence,  and simply his way of handling any situation just blows my mind,  I'd like to say that I inherited a few things from him,  1) his brains,  2) his hard working drive,  3) his dimples,  4) his great looks lol, well I'll take 2 out of the 4 any day. DAD I WILL FOREVER MISS AND LOVE YOU RIP 

Sending prayers to you and your family, Rob. So sorry for your loss. 

Can't express how sorry I am for your loss.  I will miss sharing Jan's custard pie with him!!  Enjoyed the tag sales he took Jan and I on.  His love of his family.
Dear Lord,
There's someone special whose heart must be consoled,
Someone who's lost a dear one and needs your hand to hold.
So please, Lord, take the sadness and put there in its place
The comfort of Your gift of hope,
The strength of Your own grace.
And bless this person with Your peace, with reassurance too;
That You walk close beside the one
Who needs to lean on You.

A Poem by his Loving Wife Jan:

He left in peace, he left with love;
He has gone home to dwell with God above.
He has joined those who have gone before;
Awaiting a rejoining at Heaven's door.
You love us and we love you;
Forever and a day;
It was time to let you go;
I send my heart and love as you go on your way.

OBITUARY

David James Sword

Passed away on AUGUST 1, 2019

Sherwood Chapel & Memorial Gardens

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