Herbert Emery Swords passed away peacefully on July 10, 2015, at the age of 96. He and his beloved wife, Johanna Stock Swords, had recently celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary.
Herb was born in Rheineck, Switzerland to Rev. Albert Swords and L. Gertrud F. Swords and raised in Germany with his 5 siblings. He immigrated to the United States in 1940 and worked as a tool and die maker. His brother John followed him soon after and they both worked to earn passage for the rest of the family who joined them in 1942.
Herb served in the US Navy during World War II in the Pacific and during the Korean War in Guantanamo Bay. He then continued his education under the GI bill and received his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Industrial Arts/Education from Oswego Teachers College.
Herb and Johanna met at the First German Methodist Church in New York City. They married in 1946 and subsequently settled in Cedarhurst, New York, where they raised their five children.
Blessed with a mechanical mind, an artistic eye and great set of manual skills, Herb worked as a machine shop teacher at Lawrence High School and as a school administrator at a regional vocational school (B.O.C.E.S.). He loved to share his skills with his family and friends by building furniture and making household repairs at their homes all over the country.
When Herb retired, he and Johanna moved to Cincinnati where they lived near their daughter Miriam and her family. In recent years, they moved to Boulder, CO where their daughter Ingrid and her family live.
As a life long member of the United Methodist church, Herb served his congregation in many capacities, including lay leader, and lent his beautiful bass voice to the choir. He had a strong faith that carried and comforted him throughout his life.
Herb loved the outdoors and beautiful landscapes and enjoyed camping, skiing, ice- skating and hiking. In recent years, he loved greeting the morning light on the Flatirons. His humor, love of music, sense of adventure and zest for life will be missed.
Herb is survived by his loving wife, Johanna; children Miriam (J. Timothy Riker), Lillian (Warren Nelson), Timothy, Ingrid (Richard Rohr), Herbert A.; nine grandchildren, three great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his brother John and sisters, Lilly, Maria, Esther (Foster), and Hanna (Moore).
The family extends their heartfelt thanks to the Health Care staff at Frasier Meadows Retirement Community for their excellent care, support and kindness to Herb and his family.
Donations may be made to Mountain View United Methodist Church in Boulder, CO or Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church in Cincinnati, OH.
Herb was born in Rheineck, Switzerland to Rev. Albert Swords and L. Gertrud F. Swords and raised in Germany with his 5 siblings. He immigrated to the United States in 1940 and worked as a tool and die maker. His brother John followed him soon after and they both worked to earn passage for the rest of the family who joined them in 1942.
Herb served in the US Navy during World War II in the Pacific and during the Korean War in Guantanamo Bay. He then continued his education under the GI bill and received his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Industrial Arts/Education from Oswego Teachers College.
Herb and Johanna met at the First German Methodist Church in New York City. They married in 1946 and subsequently settled in Cedarhurst, New York, where they raised their five children.
Blessed with a mechanical mind, an artistic eye and great set of manual skills, Herb worked as a machine shop teacher at Lawrence High School and as a school administrator at a regional vocational school (B.O.C.E.S.). He loved to share his skills with his family and friends by building furniture and making household repairs at their homes all over the country.
When Herb retired, he and Johanna moved to Cincinnati where they lived near their daughter Miriam and her family. In recent years, they moved to Boulder, CO where their daughter Ingrid and her family live.
As a life long member of the United Methodist church, Herb served his congregation in many capacities, including lay leader, and lent his beautiful bass voice to the choir. He had a strong faith that carried and comforted him throughout his life.
Herb loved the outdoors and beautiful landscapes and enjoyed camping, skiing, ice- skating and hiking. In recent years, he loved greeting the morning light on the Flatirons. His humor, love of music, sense of adventure and zest for life will be missed.
Herb is survived by his loving wife, Johanna; children Miriam (J. Timothy Riker), Lillian (Warren Nelson), Timothy, Ingrid (Richard Rohr), Herbert A.; nine grandchildren, three great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his brother John and sisters, Lilly, Maria, Esther (Foster), and Hanna (Moore).
The family extends their heartfelt thanks to the Health Care staff at Frasier Meadows Retirement Community for their excellent care, support and kindness to Herb and his family.
Donations may be made to Mountain View United Methodist Church in Boulder, CO or Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church in Cincinnati, OH.
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