Feb. 15, 1917-Feb. 21, 2006
George Swindle Jr. died Feb. 21, 2006. He was born in Fayette County, Ala., the sixth of 14 children, to George W. Swindle Sr. and Hassie Lee Gardner.
Mr. Swindle grew up working on the family farm and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1937. His real desire was to join the Navy, and he was able to “buy out” of the Army on July 3, 1939, while stationed at Schofield Barracks, in Hawaii.
He then enlisted in the Navy and, after basic training, was sent to Pearl Harbor aboard the USS San Francisco. He survived the Dec. 7, 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and was shortly thereafter assigned to the cruiser USS Columbia. He spent the remainder of the war fighting in the South Pacific, where he participated in the defense of Guadalcanal, the Battle of Rennel Island, New Georgia Group Operation, Treasury-Bougainville Operation, Palau Islands Operation, Philippine Island Operation, Leyte Gulf and the Battle of Surigao Straits. He was a gunner’s mate 1st Class when he was discharged from the Navy on March 13, 1948.
After World War II, Mr. Swindle spent several years working in a foundry in Southern California. In the early 1950s he moved to Grants Pass, where he was a sawmill worker until his retirement in 1979. He then occupied his time buying and selling antiques and tools.
In 1996, due to failing health, Mr. Swindle moved to Sweet Home. He was able to live independently until April 2004, when he moved to the assisted living facility at Wiley Creek Community, where he lived until his death.
He is survived by his sisters, Addie Swindle and Bertha Edwards of Jasper, Ala.; brother, Olen Swindle of Hancesville, Ala.; and nephew Jim Basting, and his wife Donna, and family of Sweet Home.
He was preceded in death by his parents and 10 brothers and sisters.
Burial will be at the I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Grants Pass.
Workman & Steckly Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.