Alvin (Skip) Swanson, Jr. was born on March 5, 1934, in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, to Albert Swanson, Sr, and Viola Cleeland Swanson. He spent his childhood in Pennsylvania and later owned a large dairy farm, until he moved to Miami, Florida, in the 1960s. Later, he moved to Lee County, Florida, where he oversaw the construction of several homes for his family and himself, doing much of the work himself. He was a successful construction supervisor for many years. He served in the US Army from 1952-1954, at which time he was honorably discharged. He was ordained into the ministry of The Church of Jesus Christ in the 1980s and served faithfully in that role until his death on January 7, 2022. Skips was predeceased by his parents and two sisters; he is survived by one sister, Leda Sheffler, with whom he resided for the past 20 years, and several nieces and nephews.
