Kenneth H. Swartz

Kenneth H. Swartz, 88, life-long resident of Shippensburg, departed this life on the evening of Tuesday, October 8, 2024.

He was born on October 21, 1935, in Shippensburg, a son of the late Paul G. and Frances E. (Dunlap) Swartz. Ken was a 1954 graduate of Shippensburg High School. He married Virginia Lee Dellinger on November 24, 1957, in Hunterstown, PA. She preceded him in death on October 27, 2023.

Ken started his career as a welder and pipefitter working for the former Fogelsanger Welding, Shippensburg, where he first learned the trade. As a member of the Plumbers and Pipefitters UA Local #520, he went on to work mainly at Three Mile Island for twenty years, ten years prior to and ten years after the 1979 accident, which involved significantly hazardous work. Concurrently, Ken also farmed, alongside his wife, on their fifty-two acre farm. 

Early in life, Ken was a member of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. He was a former member of the Middle Spring Presbyterian Church and a current member of the Shippensburg Independent Baptist Church. Ken loved his church, singing hymns, and sharing the gospel. He was always incredibly grateful and content, appreciated God’s creation in nature and the world around him, and was known to say “God sure was a wonderful creator of variety and beauty.” In his free time, he enjoyed hunting waterfowl. He also loved spending time with his large family, especially his grandchildren and great grandchildren, who were very special to him.

He is survived by five children, Kenneth P. Swartz of Shippensburg, Kathy Swartz Hock and husband Douglas of Coudersport, Timothy A. Swartz and wife Dawn of Mechanicsburg, Loriann Swartz Hock and husband Randall of Carlisle, and Tamela Swartz Fogal and husband Robert of Shippensburg, ten grandchildren, twenty-two great grandchildren, one sister, Joyce Bender of Shippensburg, and many nieces and nephews. 

In addition to his parents and wife of sixty-six years, Ken was preceded in death by grandson, Aaron Hock, great grandson, Noah Swartz, and five siblings, Martha Spear, Betty Young, Mae Holtry, Paul Swartz, and Janet Arnold Mose.

His funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, October 19, 2024, at the Shippensburg Independent Baptist Church. Pastor Kenneth Waggoner will officiate. Interment will follow in the Middle Spring Cemetery. Viewing will be Friday evening from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the Fogelsanger-Bricker Funeral Home & Crematorium, Inc., Shippensburg, and one hour prior to the service on Saturday morning at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Shippensburg Independent Baptist Church at P.O. Box 363, 308 South Queen St., Shippensburg, PA 17257.