Ronald Lewis Swift

Ronald Lewis Swift, age 92 of Copperas Cove, went to be with his Lord and Savior and beloved wife on the morning of December 27, 2023.

Funeral services are scheduled for 1:00 pm, Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at Sneed-Carnley Funeral Chapel with Pastor Mike Harrigan officiating. Burial will follow at 3:00 pm at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen with Full Military Honors.  Visitation with the family will be 5-7 pm, Monday, January 8, 2024, at Sneed-Carnley Funeral Chapel of Copperas Cove.

Ronald was born on September 30, 1931, in Los Angeles, California to the late James Russell Swift and Fern Mary Hubbard Swift. He grew up in the Los Angeles area until joining the Marine Corps in 1947 and was honorably discharged on September 19, 1949.   He then enlisted in the U. S. Army in 1950 and served until honorably discharged on October 1, 1971.  During his military service he fought in the Korean War and two tours of the Vietnam War.  His military service took him to various states throughout the United States.  Ronald then went to work for the City of Copperas Cove in 1973 and retired in 1993.  Ronald was a longtime member of the Korean War Veterans Association and served in many capacities including Chaplain, Second Vice-President, Trustee and Honor Guard.  He was also in charge of the fundraising for bricks for Veterans.  Ronald logged over 600 hours of volunteer service at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Temple, Texas.  He loved serving his fellow Veterans.

On June 21, 1955, Ronald married Alma Pauline Foster.  They moved to Texas in the Copperas Cove area in 1966. After retirement he and Alma traveled throughout the states. Ronald enjoyed tinkering with lawn mowers and small engines of all types.  He was a welder and passed those skills on to his grandsons. Ronald and Alma had 67 years together before her passing in 2022. He and Alma enjoyed serving the community in the Citizen Fire and Public Safety Volunteer Unit and were members of Citizens Emergency Response Team for many years.  He and Alma were longtime members of Fairview Baptist Church where he taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and was a Deacon.  He loved his Lord and Savior.  Ronald and Alma had a large family and were devoted to spending time with them.

He was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, and siblings.

Ronald is survived by his daughter, Cheryl Edgar and husband, Ricky  of Abilene, TX; son, James Swift and wife, Lisa of Peoria, AZ; daughter, Rhonda Hardman and husband, Buck of Cumberland, MD; son, Russell Swift and wife, Terri of Copperas Cove; and daughter, Pamela Arias and husband, Louis of Wylie, TX.  He is also survived by eleven grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, the St. Jude Children’s Hospital or Fairview Baptist Church in memory of Ronald L. Swift.