Donald Robert Swanson

Donald Robert Swanson, 93, of San Diego California died peacefully on January 18, 2017. He was born on October 25, 1923 in Pukwana, South Dakota to the late Albert and Ella Swanson, the second of three children. Don left college to serve in the US Navy during World War II in 1941. He married college sweetheart Lois Palmer in 1944. He served mostly in the Pacific during the war. He graduated from San Diego State College with a degree in Physics, and a minor in Mathematics in 1949. Afterward, he spent his long and successful career with Convair/General Dynamics and General Atomics in the Aero Space and Defense industries, mostly in southern California, in San Diego, and the Pomona/Claremont area. He also moved his family to Huntsville, Alabama, to work in the Aero Space industry in the early 60’s, working with American and German scientists to put our first astronauts on the moon. Don and his wife Lois were always very active in their church community wherever they lived. Don was always in the bass section of Lois’ church choirs, served on church counsels as finance minister or president, and helped raise money to build Sunday School buildings. Don believed in the value of college. He funded the formal education of all his children and grandchildren. Don enjoyed vigorous tennis matches and ping-pong matches, sailing, horseback riding, and golf. He was an avid reader. After retirement he and Lois traveled the world extensively and also engaged in writers’ clubs and classes, writing many travel adventures, war stories and life stories. He will be greatly missed by family and friends. Don is survived by Lois, his wife of 72 years, his remaining children, Teri aka Sam Swanson, and Rick Swanson, his granddaughters Laura Martin (Nathan), Gaea Moore (Tony) and Lynn Schwaebe (Luc Fecteau), great-grandchildren, Tomas, James, Jessica, Miles, Makaela, and Josie, his brother Roy Swanson (Wanda) of Pukwana, So.Dak, as well as a host of wonderful nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. His parents, his sister Dorothy Glasser, and his daughter, Connie Swanson, as well as many friends predeceased him. Church memorial service will be Saturday, February 4, 10:30, La Jolla Presbyterian Church, 7715 Draper Ave, La Jolla 92037. Private burial service, Feb 3rd at El Camino Mortuary, 5600 Carroll Canyon Rd. San Diego, CA. 92121. Donations may be made to Dementia research in lieu of flowers. ~