Obituary of Ronald Swain

Swain, Ronald Edward

It is with sadness that the family of Ronald Edward Swain announces his passing at the age of 97 on January 11, 2019 at Arbour Heights Retirement Residence in Kingston.  Ronald was predeceased by his parents, Edward James Percy Swain and Madge Muriel Swain (Greeves); his sister, Joyce Margaret Raines (Swain); his loving wife, Joyce Evelyn Swain (Ponting), and devoted sons, Derek and Colin.  He will be greatly missed by his daughter in law, Elsa Swain; his granddaughters, Shannon Reitzel (Jeff) and Chelsea Deodato (Jake); his great grandchildren, Vera and Elora Deodato and Derek Reitzel; his nephews and nieces overseas, Christopher Raines, Margaret Samways, Rosemary Ecob; and Duane Nourry of Kingston.  Born in Spalding, Great Britain on September 25, 1921, Ronald served as a pilot with the Royal British Navy and in 1941, he trained in Kingston, where he met and married his wife, Joyce.  During World War ll, Ron was commissioned to Trinidad, Boston USA, Ceylon, Sumatra, Australia, Japan and Great Britain. He returned to Kingston in 1946 and began employment as a draftsman with Drever & Smith, Architects, where he worked until his retirement in 1986. Ron was an avid water skier, bird watcher and gardener, enjoying his summers with family and friends at his cottage and hobby farm. Cremation has taken place at James Reid Crematorium. As per his request, there will be no service. Ron had been known to say, "Everyone wants to go to heaven, but no one wants to say good-bye", so we shall say farewell, till we meet again.