Jack Lucas Swearingen, 91, of Black Oak, went home to be with the Lord Saturday, September 28, 2024. He was surrounded by family.
Jack was born in Lewis County, a son of the late John H. and Nora Lucas Swearingen.
Following his 18th birthday, he enlisted in the United States Air Force in September 1951 and retired in March 1973 after having served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
He met the love of his life, Carolyn Stafford, in March 1954 at Vanceburg and they married on March 24, 1962. On December 20, 1967, their daughter Melanie Dawn was born, whom he loved more than life and devoted his life to.
After retiring from the Air Force, they moved back to Vanceburg. Jack worked for Cooper Brothers, NAPA Auto Parts, and Browning Manufacturing, from where he retired.
He attended Garrison Church of Christ for several years and then Clarksburg Christian Church for over 35 years serving as an elder for many of those years. He loved his church family and hated missing church, and rarely did until the last several months of his life.
He is survived by his daughter, Melanie (Russell) Polley, who loved and cared for him the last several years of his life. Also surviving are an adopted grandson, Christopher David (Ashley) Burns; one brother, Archie (Jean) Swearingen; two sisters, Gypsy Cooper and Jessie Lykins; and two sisters-in-law, Charlene Swearingen and Gartha Swearingen. Many other family members and friends also survive who will miss him dearly.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Carolyn Swearingen; one daughter by his first marriage, Janice Ross; five brothers, John “Brick” and wife Debbie, Bruce and wife Mary, Creighton, Dudley and wife Janie, and Tom; one sister, Carrie and husband Melvin; brothers-in-law, Ernest, Charles, John, and James Lee Stafford, and Vernon Cooper; and sisters-in-law, Martha, Elizabeth, and Dolly.
Services will be at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at Gaydos Funeral Home, 159 Second Street Vanceburg, with Pastor Kelly Blodgett and Pastor Lyle Parker officiating. Burial will follow in Lewis County Memory Gardens with military graveside rites accorded by Monte Lewis Stamm VFW Post 5438 of Vanceburg.
Visitation will be Tuesday, October 1, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and after 9:00 a.m. Wednesday at Gaydos Funeral Home.
Serving as pallbearers will be Paul Bruce Swearingen, Chuck Swearingen, Tony Swearingen, David Burns, Perry Polley, and Matt Polley.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.gaydosfh.com.
