H. Ray Swank, 70, Wolcottville, passed away Saturday, July 2, 2016, at home following a courageous battle with cancer. He was born to Harold and Olive Swank on Aug. 13, 1945, in Garrett. Ray graduated from Ligonier High School with the class of 1964, and he went on to honorably serve his country for four years in the United States Air Force. On March 28, 1981, he married Shirley Moore Lehman.
Ray was considered to be a jack-of-all-trades, and his wide set of skills allowed him to be self-employed for most of his life. He enjoyed airplanes, motorcycles, and snowmobiles. Ray was great with his hands; he loved woodworking, gardening, and cooking. He also enjoyed going to Arizona in the winter and riding his Polaris Razor in the desert with family and friends. He was a member of the Ligonier American Legion Post 243.
Ray will be dearly missed by his wife of 35 years: Shirley Swank, Wolcottville; two sons: Tony Swank; and Tim Swank, both of Ligonier; two grandsons: Jordan Swank; and Jared Swank; a special niece: Andrea Sonnenberk; and family of Corunna; his mother: Olive Swank, Ligonier; six siblings: Violet (Tom) Ley, Waterville, Ohio; Ron (Ilene) Swank, White Pigeon, Mich.; Don (Loretta) Swank, Middlebury; Paul (Lisa) Swank, Cromwell; Dave (Cindy) Swank, Ligonier; and Karen (Marlin) Whitlock, West Unity, Ohio. He was welcomed into everlasting by his father: Harold Swank; and two stepsons: Paul Lehman; and Kenneth Lehman.
A funeral service in honor of Ray will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 7, at Yeager Funeral Home, Ligonier. Pastor David Bell will officiate. Burial will follow in Woodruff Cemetery, Wolcottville.
Friends and family will be received from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, July 6, at Yeager Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be directed to Relay for Life of LaGrange County in Ray’s memory.