Charles Allan Swan

CHARLES ALLAN SWAN was born in Dallas, Texas on August 6, 1929 to parents Walt Rodney and Laura Patricia (Moss) Swan. He grew up in the Lakewood area of Dallas and graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1947. According to him, he aspired to be a “Lakewood Rat” but was never quite cool enough. However, he did alter his Dad’s car by taking off the muffler to at least sound cool (until his dad made him put it back….he said it was much easier to take off than put on!).

He graduated from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas in 1952 with a degree in Petroleum Engineering. He went to work out of college for Sun Oil Company. In 1952, he met the love of his life, Jimmie “Nell” Johnson, when they were both attendants in a wedding. On September 25, 1953, they married in Fort Worth, Texas. They lived in different locations in Texas including Snyder, Colorado City, Kilgore, Premont and finally Plano in 1969 where he worked in the Richardson Sun Oil Lab.

On January 3, 1956 they were blessed with the arrival of their first child, Michael followed by David on October 6, 1960, Amy on June 5, 1965 and Lori on August 17, 1968. They bought their first l6 foot travel trailer in l965 and after that they enjoyed travelling to State parks, the southern states and seeing the country. Most family vacations were in the trailer near a Texas river or lake, so the children grew up to share his love for nature and the outdoors. He loved working on cars; could fix anything; and spent many hours building, creating, and “re-engineering” all kinds of things in his shop.

In May 1986, he retired from Sun Oil Company after 35 years of service. He and Nell bought a 26 foot travel trailer and hit the road, seeing many national parks and other sites all around the country. They would leave for a month or two at a time, and their grown children were often left asking “Have you heard from Mom and Dad lately?” (that was before cell phones!). They also took to the seas on many cruises where they saw Alaska, Hawaii, and much of the Caribbean. Many enjoyable years were spent traveling and visiting family across the country.

“Charlie” is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Jimmie “Nell, son Michael and wife Rene’ Swan, son David and wife Gay Lynn Swan, daughter Amy and husband Shonnie Lyon, and daughter Lori and husband Danny Hoff as well as nine grandchildren: Jessica, Laura and Justin Swan; Kayley and Braden Swan; Ethan and Emily Lyon; and Mallory and Macy Hoff.