Edgar Lee Swinney
Edgar Lee Swinney, 89, of Versailles passed away at 1 a.m., Friday, September 13, 2019 at his home. He was born near New Marion on February 3, 1930, the son of Culver and Ethel Viola Andress Swinney.
On November 6, 1949 he married a beautiful lady Ruth Ann Kamman at the Tyson Methodist Church in Versailles. They bought a farm west of Osgood and Ruth Ann passed away on August 19, 2007. They had two wonderful children David and Lisa.
David married Melinda Sue Renfro on December 15, 1979 and they had three children, Matthew Ryan, Samantha Crystal, and Rebecca Leah. Matthew married Bridget Ann Miller and their children are Sara Leeann and Zachary Daniel. Samantha has one son Jamieson Lee. Rebecca married Jarred Westerfeld and they have two children John David Wayne and Annaleah Sue. Lisa married David Lee Ebinger on March 22, 1980 and they had two sons Jeremy David and Joshua Edward. Jeremy died on February 23, 2002 at the age of 20. Joshua has five children Austin Joseph, Jeremy David, Alexis Renea, Jaelynn Nicole, and Isabella Beth. Edgar is also survived by his brother Robert Wayne (Carole) Swinney of Canaan, and his sister-in-law Jill Swinney of Greensburg.
On November 29, 2008 he married a lovely lady Joyce Julia Klusman at the Hopewell Baptist Church and she survives. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Leslie Ray Swinney.
Edgar Lee was a 1948 graduate of New Marion High School. He served in the United States Marine Corps from 1952-1954 as a Sergeant during the Korean War. His boot camp was in San Diego and he was later stationed at Santa Ana, California Air Base. He was also stationed in Japan for six months with a helicopter squadron where his duties included filing and payroll for the 150 man squad. For service to his country Edgar Lee received the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal, and the United Nations Service Medal. In civilian life he worked at Allisons General Motors in Indianapolis for nine years. He was also a farmer and raised and fed cattle from 1956 until his retirement in 2007.
Edgar Lee was on the board of directors for the Ripley County Bank for 15 years and was a director for the Ripley County Farm Bureau for 6 years. He was a former member of the New Marion Baptist Church and was a 62 year member of the Hopewell Baptist Church where he had served as a trustee. He was a 58 year member of the Osgood Masonic Lodge and was active in Republican politics, serving on the Center Township Advisory Board for six years.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, September 17 at 11 a.m. at the Hopewell Baptist Church with Rev. Ty Choate officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery with military graveside rites by the Versailles American Legion.
Memorials may be given to the Hopewell Baptist Church building fund or the Hopewell Cemetery in care of the funeral home.
