John David Swearingen

John David Swearingen, 94, longtime resident of Rogers, died Sunday, June 21, 2015 at Circle of Life Hospice in Bentonville, Ark. He was born July 12, 1920 in Bentonville, the fourth and last child of Ira David Swearingen and Edith Jessie Irelan Swearingen. He grew up in Rogers, first on a farm just west of Dixieland and Walnut and then in the downtown area, where he lived for most of his life. John's father died when he was only seven, and he quickly learned important life lessons from his widowed mother as she faced the Great Depression years with meager resources…the necessity (and expectation) of hard work, the value of money, and the power of self-reliance and resourcefulness. These became guiding principles for him the rest of his life. A 1938 graduate of Rogers High School, he played trumpet in the band, sang in choral groups, and played football. He and a group of friends formed a dance band, "Iggy's Ramblers" and played at Bella Vista (Wonderland Cave) and Silver Springs (Monte Ne) for "gas money". He attended the University of Arkansas and played in the Razorback Band, graduating with a chemistry degree in 1942, and was employed by the Oklahoma Ordnance Works in a defense (munitions) plant in Pryor, Okla. On October 24, 1942, he married his high school sweetheart, Betty Powell. They would be married 64 years and raised three sons. John felt it was his duty join the war effort overseas during WWII even though his work in the defense plant had exempted him from the draft, so he enlisted in the Army in 1944; served in the 78th Infantry in France and Germany during the Battle of the Bulge; and after the war, was assigned to the Occupation Forces in Berlin for a year. After the war, he worked in a research lab for lead mining in Joplin, then moved back to Rogers to take a sales position with Shofner Office Supply, where he worked for 18 years and formed long term relationships with customers throughout northwest Arkansas and southwest Missouri. He changed careers in the late 1960's, first selling mutual funds and then joining A.G. Edwards as a broker in 1973, where he worked for 17 years, retiring in 1990 at age 70 to care for Betty who was developing Alzheimer's disease. He remained her faithful caretaker until her death in 2006. Few men are lucky enough to marry more than one high school sweetheart, but John managed to do just that. After Betty passed away, John (at age 87!) married another RHS '38 classmate in 2007, Maizie Baker Coe. They enjoyed six wonderful years together before she died in 2013. John represented everything "great" about the Greatest Generation. He was a self-made man who rose above the challenges of his day to become a successful businessman, husband, and father. He understood personal and fiscal responsibility, duty, honor, hard work, sacrifice, and loyalty. He was patriotic and level-headed; a thinking man who embraced challenge. Always active and interested in his community, he was a member of the Rogers Noon Rotary Club, sang in the choirs of Central United Methodist Church and First United Methodist Church for over 40 years, and was a supporter of the museum and library. He helped organize and lead Boy Scout Troop 122 when his sons were active members and received the Silver Beaver Award for volunteerism. He was recently dubbed the "Unofficial Mayor of 4th Street" by his downtown neighbors who have appreciated his years of tireless effort to improve the neighborhood. Most important of all, he was the beloved patriarch of his family. John was preceded in death by his two wives, Betty and Maizie (who were, by the way, close high school friends); by his brother Al Swearingen; and by his two sisters, Ruth Terhune and Jean Gaylord. He is survived by his three sons and their wives: David and Marilyn Swearingen, Jim and Nancy Swearingen, Tom and Teri Swearingen; six grandchildren and spouses: Rachel Swearingen Harris (Alan), Robert Swearingen, Rebecca Swearingen Hazlewood (J. Michael), John Russell Swearingen (Lara), Scott Swearingen (Susie), and William Swearingen (Melisa); by five great-grandchildren: Grant Harris, Taylor Harris, Abigail Swearingen, John Patrick Swearingen, and Lucy Jane Hazlewood; and by one niece and two nephews: Kathy Enslen, Stan Terhune, and Joel Terhune. The family is very grateful for the love and support received from the church family and staff of Rogers First United Methodist Church and commends the entire staff at Circle of Life Hospice for their uncommon commitment to excellent care for their patients and families. Thank you for making this journey with us. An additional special thanks goes to the employees and "regulars" at Wesner's Grill in Rogers for their kind friendships with John. Memorials may be sent to Circle of Life Hospice, 901 Jones Road, Springdale, Ark.; the First United Methodist Church Endowment Fund, 307 W. Elm, Rogers; the Boy Scouts of America, 1401 Old Greenwood Rd, Ft. Smith, AR 72901, or to the charity of your choice. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m., Wednesday, June 24 at First United Methodist Church, Rogers with Pastors David Bentley and Sandi Wanasek officiating. Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until service time. Arrangements have been entrusted to Stockdale-Moody Funeral Services of Rogers. Words of comfort may be shared at stockdalefuneral.com.