Lindon Swafford

December 9, 1930 - December 27, 2010

Pratt, Kansas- Lindon Lee Swafford, 80, died Monday, December 27, 2010. Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 am Thursday, December 30, 2010 at Larrison Mortuary with Rev. Isobel Stein and Rev. John Havens co-presiding. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 29, 2010 at Larrison Mortuary. Burial will be in the Greenlawn Cemetery in Pratt. He was born December 9, 1930 in Liberal, Kansas, the son of Verlin B. Swafford and Vienna E. (Leonard) Swafford. On May 5, 1951, he married Geneva Marie McVey at Clayton, New Mexico. She survives. A Pratt County resident for much of his life, he was a retired educator and sales manager. He held teaching and administrative positions in Pratt and Stafford County Public School Systems and Pratt County Community College. He also was employed by the Wichita Public Schools as a teacher and counselor. For 10 years, he was associated with Southwest Pipe of Idaho, Inc. as Vice-President primarily in charge of sales and customer relations for the states of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Additionally, he maintained a life-long interest in agriculture. After receiving preliminary degrees from Pratt Community College and Fort Hays State University, he completed a Masters Degree in Education Administration. Later he was awarded a research assistantship at Fort Hays State University for further study. He was a member of the Iuka United Methodist Church where he served in various capacities, and he also maintained memberships in the Elks Lodge #1451 and the American Legion Post #58. He was a former member of the Pratt Area Literacy Volunteers, Optimist Club, Phi Delta Honorary Society, and several other education related organizations. Additionally, he served as Treasurer and Secretary of the Saratoga Township Board in Pratt County; and as a director and secretary of the Cullison Cooperative Association Board. He was a U.S. Army Veteran of the Korean Conflict; and after completion of basic and additional training he was selected to serve as cadre in the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiments advanced training program. He also served in the Kansas National Guard. He is survived by his wife, Geneva M. (McVey), daughter, Valle K. Watada and son-in-law, Douglas H. Watada of Ft. Collins, Colorado; and a daughter Linda J. Dickerson of Wichita, Kansas; and a son, Rev. Steven W. Swafford and partner Tim R. Cline of Los Angeles, California. Five grandchildren; Stephanie Watada and husband Robert Drews of Denver, Colorado and Leah Watada of Denver, Colorado; Ian Watada of Ft. Collins, Colorado; Lindsay Dickerson of Dallas, Texas; and Clayton Dickerson of Wichita, Kansas; brother, Hubert Swafford and sister in-law Bonnie Swafford of Twin Falls, Idaho; sister-in-law Galene Swafford of Pratt, Kansas. Lindon Swafford was preceded in death by his brothers, Duane and Verlin Wayne Swafford, and a grandson Drew Watada. Memorials may be sent to the Iuka Methodist Church, American Heart Association or a charity of the donor’s choice in care of Larrison Mortuary, 300 Country Club Road, Pratt, Kansas 67124.