LTC (Ret.) Gary Lorne Swallow, US Army, 78 of Jacksonville, Florida passed away at his home surrounded by his family on June 2, 2021 after a courageous and relentless battle with cancer. He put his family first in everything he did, and was a man of honor, integrity, loyalty, and great talent.
He was born May 26, 1943 in Monongahela, Pennsylvania to the late Barclay Coulter Swallow and Norma Kogelman Swallow.
He lived in Benning Hills, Georgia while Barclay was in the US Army. They moved to Atlanta and then to Orlando, where he attended elementary, middle and high school. Having a tremendous work ethic that he would carry his entire life, he started working at age 14 with a paper route and shelving books at the public library, then delivering furniture and later working as a photojournalist for The Orlando Sentinel. He graduated from Boone High School in 1961 and attended Orlando Junior College before going to the University of Florida where he met his future wife, Jo. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism in 1966 and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army Medical Service Corps.
He attended the Officer Basic Course at Fort Sam Houston, Texas and was subsequently assigned to various posts and assignments:
- – Ass’t Medical Registrar, 250th General Hospital, FSH, Texas. 1966-1968
- – Personnel Counselor, HQ 133rd Medical Group, Thailand 1968-1969
- – Personnel Counselor, Office of the Surgeon General, HQ 3rd Army, Fort McPherson, Georgia 1969-1972
- – Ass’t Chief, Military Personnel Branch, Tripler Army Medical Center, Hawaii 1974-1977
- – Chief, Automation Customer Support Group, Department of the Army, Office of the Surgeon General, Washington, D.C. 1977-1987
While on active duty, he earned his MBA in Management from Georgia State University and his Master’s Degree in Computer Science from American University.
In December 1985, Gary was tasked to procure and transport computers to Dover AFB Mortuary and to train operators on word processing for the preparation of autopsy protocols and death certificates on the 248 military and 8 civilian deaths that occurred in the Gander, Newfoundland airline crash of 12 Dec 85.
Upon his retirement in 1987, the family moved to Jacksonville, Florida. He started working at Wilkinson Insulation Company alongside his father-in law, Frank Jones and his brother-in-law, Bill Jones. As Vice President, he enjoyed meeting builders and working with contractors. He retired for a second time in 2010.
He was accomplished in woodworking, computer technology and videography. He was active at Englewood Christian Church and served in the audio-visual ministry for Sunday services, as well as filming choir programs and special activities. His volunteer activities were numerous. He volunteered with the Parent-Teacher Association at Englewood Senior High School and Stanton College Prep. He made videos of Brian’s and Emily’s sports activities: football, basketball and soccer. He also filmed Emily’s stage performances in high school, at The University of Virginia and at New York University. He was an active volunteer at Theatre Jacksonville and other Jacksonville community theaters. He was always willing and able to help friends with computer problems and applications. He joined Jo in support of Stonecroft Ministries activities.
Gary had a passion for music and played the trumpet, saxophone and guitar. He loved spending time in the water, be it water skiing, skin diving, fishing, captaining the boat so his kids could ski, or taking a leisurely trip up the St. John’s River. He preferred driving to flying, and went on countless road trips with Jo, driving to see Emily in New York several times and even driving to Seattle and back for Emily’s wedding in 2018. He also loved to travel abroad, taking various river cruises visiting cities in England, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Hungary, Austria and the Netherlands to name a few.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father. He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Eleanor Josephine (Jo) Swallow; his son Brian Christopher Swallow (Shaara); his daughter Emily Swallow Kimball (Chad); grandsons Jones Gary Swallow and Sawyer Christopher Swallow; his brother, Kim Douglas Swallow; several nieces and nephews; and innumerable friends.
Funeral services will be held, Thursday, June 10th, 2021, at 11:00 am at Englewood Christian Church, 4316 Barnes Rd S, Jacksonville, FL 32207 with Sr. Minister Pete Ramsey officiating, followed by interment in Jacksonville National Cemetery with US Army Honors. The family will receive friends at George H. Hewell and Son Funeral Home, 4140 University Blvd S, Jacksonville, FL 32216 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm Wednesday, June 9th, 2021. There will also be an hour of receiving friends from 10:00 – 11:00 am, prior to the funeral service.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Gary’s name may be made to the Englewood Christian Church Audio-Visual Ministry. Please visit eccjax.com/give and select Fund “Gary Swallow Memorial.”