Jack Frederick Swanger, 92, New Smyrna Beach, Florida, passed away peacefully into the Lord’s arms on July 10, 2013.
Jack was born on November, 20, 1920 in Canton, Ohio to Fred and Vera Swanger and spent his childhood years in Canton, Ohio. After graduating from high school he attended Dallas Aviation School in Lovefield, Dallas, Texas. After one year the Dallas Aviation School hired him as Assistant Instructor for Mechanical Aircraft. Jack taught for two years and was well respected and admired for his knowledge and teaching skills.
Jack enlisted in the Air Force and was stationed at Lovefield Air Force Base for about 1 ½ years; followed by an assignment to Homestead, Florida for additional training involving four engine planes (bombers and transports). He then was promoted as a flight engineer to train pilots. There were five planes supported by Jack and another mechanical (flight) engineer. These training flights were from Dallas to Brownsville, Texas. Jack was transferred to Wilmington, Delaware. He taught flight crews on the North Atlantic Flight Routes. He assisted on the Army Air Force flights using C54s. The route originated from LaGuardia, New York. The first leg of their route was from New York to Stevensville, Newfoundland; followed by stops at: The Azores; Casablanca, Morocco; Tripoli, Libya; Cairo, Egypt; Abadan on the Persian Gulf (Iran); Karachi, India; Agra, India; and Calcutta, India (Kolkata). Then the crew would reverse the flight back to Wilmington, Delaware. He took that trip 8-9 times.
Following World War II, Jack worked for his family owned gas station where he met his beloved wife of 64 years Jeanne. “She came in to get gas. She got gas and I got Jeanne.”They raised their son Steve in Ohio. After working at the gas station he worked for Goodyear, drove a tank truck for Beavers Petroleum, was a salesman at Ewing’s Chevrolet, and ended his working career as a veterinary pharmaceutical supplier.
Jack, his wife Jeanne and son Steve moved to the Captain Quarters Condominiums in New Smyrna Beach, Florida and lived there for 36 years.
Jack enjoyed golf. He also enjoyed traveling to Sweden and Switzerland with his beloved wife and son Steve.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Vera Swanger, a sister Vera Swanger, and his beloved wife Jeanne Viola Swanger of 64 years. He is survived by his son Steve, special friends Dina and Steve Wentworth, Gabrielle Tomory, and loving caretaker Gina Scott all of New Smyrna Beach as well as many friends made over the years at Captain Quarters. Jack’s sweet smile and great sense of humor will be greatly missed.
Life Celebration will be 4:00PM, Monday July 15, 2013 at Baldwin Brothers Heritage Place 1 North Causeway, New Smyrna Beach, Fl.
Leave a reply