Mel Swanson

Mel Swanson, age 91, a 55 year resident of Dublin, met his Savior on Sunday, June 17, 2012 at Willow Brook Village in Delaware surrounded by his loving family. A graduate of Columbus West High School, Mel was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps during WWII. Serving on the battleship USS Massachusetts, Mel served throughout the Southwest Pacific in the Russell Islands, Western New Guinea, the Gilbert Islands, Western Caroline Islands and later the Marshall Islands, Leyte Gulf and Iwo Jima and participated in the initial landing of Occupation Forces in Tokyo Bay, Japan. He served on the Admiral’s staff and was assigned as an Honor Guard for President Harry S. Truman. After the war, Mel worked for 29 years with General Motors before his retirement. After his retirement, he was the co-chair of the GM Retirees luncheons. Mel married his wife Shirley Swanson in 1946 and together they raised their family in Dublin, Ohio. Mel coached Little League baseball in Dublin for many years. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 66 years Shirley , his sister-in-law Doris Jean Parks and his brother-in-law Rod Ayers. Mel is survived by his children: Jerry (Pam) Swanson of Ostrander, OH; Lance (Terry) Swanson of Lapeer, MI; and Wendy (David) Schlaegel of Lewis Center, OH; grandchildren: Amy (Adam) Grossman of Germantown, TN; Denny Swanson of Ostrander; Lauren (Jason) Richard of Jefferson City, MO; Heather (Justin) Podgorski of Lapeer; Candice Schlaegel of Lewis Center; and Adam Swanson of Shenandoah, IA; four great-grandchildren: Zohara, Lyla, Lillian and Carson; brother Robert (Jan) Swanson of Minneapolis, MN; and sister-in-law Beverly Ayers of California. Family will receive friends from 2-4 & 6-8pm. FRIDAY at the RUTHERFORD FUNERAL HOME AT POWELL, 450 West Olentangy St., Powell, OH 43065 (614)-792-1471 where funeral services will be held 10:00am. SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012 with Pastor David Roberson, officiating. (The funeral home is located on W. Olentangy St./Powell, Rd./SR 750 ¼ mile east of Sawmill Parkway.) Burial will follow at Union Cemetery, Columbus. In lieu of flowers, friends may make memorial contributions to: Honor Flight, c/o Bobbi and Bill Richards, 2185 Ridgecliff Rd., Columbus, OH 43221 www.honorflightcolumbus.org. To send a condolence to the family, please visit www.rutherfordfuneralhomes.com.