William Dorse Swoveland

William Dorse Swoveland, 97, of Van Wert, died at 7:45 a.m. Saturday, March 26, 2011, at Vancrest Health Care Center in Van Wert.

He was born January 15, 1914, in Wren, the son of the late William Elza and Della (Morehead) Swoveland. On August 30, 1936, he married Fern Leah (Oechsle) Swoveland, who preceded him indeath on February 15, 2004.

Mr. Swoveland was a retired carpenter and architectural woodworker at The Marsh Foundation, where he worked for 36 years. He was a 1932 graduate of Wren High School and a member of St. Paul’s Reformed Church in America in Harrison Township. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5803 in Van Wert.

Survivors include a daughter, Linda Ruth Gunn of Kensington, N.H.; two grandsons, Matthew (Jenn) Gunn of Statham, N.H., and Cameron (Kristen) Gunn of Portsmouth, N.H.; and three great-grandchildren, Anna, Max and Emmett Gunn.

Two brothers, Doyt V. Swoveland and DeLloyd Swoveland; and seven sisters, Irma Koeppel, Berene Dellinger, Edith Smith, Doreen Clifton, Catherine Mills, Alma Sheets and Lillian Ruth Sheets, also preceded him in death.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 30, at St. Paul’s Reformed Church in America, with Pastor Chad Strabbing officiating. Burial will be in Evangelical Protestant Cemetery in Harrison Township, with graveside military rites performed by the combined honors units of American Legion Post 178 and VFW Post 5803, both of Van Wert.

Calling hours are from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, March 29, at Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert and an hour prior to services Wednesday at the church.

Preferred memorials: St. Rita’s Hospice.

Messages of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.cowanandsonfuneralhome.com.