John Edwin Swanson

John Edwin Swanson made his final journey to his heavenly home on July 19, 2021
under the care of the Ridgecrest Regional Hospital. He was born into a farming
family August 2, 1934 to John Edwin Swanson, Sr. and Mercedes Cordray in
Columbus, Kansas. He attended a country school and graduated from the Cherokee
County High School in Columbus, Kansas in 1952 where he excelled in sports. He
married Doris Hensley, the love of his life, on March 15, 1955 in Baxter Springs,
Kansas. They moved to Ridgecrest, California six months later were he was
employed with Westend Chemical Company. He entered the United States Army in
1957 and was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas and Pinder Barracks in Zirndorf,
Germany. He was a trained medic and later was manager of the base theater. He
taught several persons, some who spoke other languages, the skill of operating
35mm projectors. He also operated the projector on the ship home for the United

States Army. Their first son, John Andrew was born in the Nurnberg, Germany Army
Hospital in 1958. Another son, Brian Edwin was born in the Drummond Hospital in
Ridgecrest, California in 1960. John was a journeyman carpenter by trade, advanced
to a maintenance supervisor at multiple facilities in Searles Valley, California. He
was a Boy Scout scoutmaster and hiked over a hundred miles in the Sierra Nevada's
and John Muir Trail. He was an elder in the Ridgecrest Presbyterian Church;
completed several projects of installing louvers outside the sanctuary; assisted his
son, John, who was working for his Eagle Scout badge projects to enhance
appointments at the church; he was instrumental in devising the installation of a
cross at the church. He enjoyed playing golf and was a fan of most sports. He
enjoyed traveling especially visiting his family in Kansas, Illinois and Colorado and
also making trips to Paris, France, Alaska, Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, Sedona, Ft.
Lauderdale and a cruise to Mexico. He also experienced sailing in the British Virgin
Islands which he thoroughly enjoyed. His mother and father, brother, Carl Swanson,
sisters, Mary Dee Camerer, Edith Pyles, and Edna Dill, predeceased him. He is
survived by his twin sister, Doris Raley of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; his wife, Doris
Swanson of the home; son, John Andrew Swanson (Cathy) of Naperville, Illinois; son,
Brian Edwin Swanson (Kendra Kocher) of Colorado Springs, Colorado;
grandchildren, Marie Ponce of Cheney, Washington; grandsons John Anthony
Swanson, William Swanson and Edward Swanson of Illinois; great-grandchildren:
Jay Ponce, Tyler, Parker, Oliver, Atlas, Bodie, Randall and Lorelai Swanson.
Donations may be made to Ridgecrest Presbyterian Church or National Institute of
Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). A Witness to the Resurrection will be
held August 7 th at 11 a.m. at the Ridgecrest Presbyterian Church officiated by The
Reverend Sally Willis-Watkins.
Per demographic, recommendations from the CDC and requirements for DOD locations, masks and
social distancing are required. We appreciate your understanding.