Willard Swisher

Willard D. Swisher of Bucyrus died Wednesday, August 27, 2014 at Heartland of Bucyrus on his 92nd birthday.

He was born to the late Homer and Elizabeth (Gay) Swisher on August 27, 1922 in Marion County. He went to school in Wyandot before moving to Bucyrus in 1936 and “getting lost” in the much bigger Bucyrus High School, graduating in 1940. Because Willard was working as a welder at Crawford Steel manufacturing gun mounts, his enlistment in the Army was deferred until 1945. He served in the Army’s 63rd Infantry in the Philippines and Korea before being honorably discharged in 1946. He returned to Bucyrus where he worked for Ohio Crane and then Timken from which he retired after 30 years. While at Ohio Crane, Willard’s sister-in-law introduced him to Florence Wilson and they were married December 5, 1948.

Willard will be remembered as a family man who could fix anything and did everything around his home. He was quiet and private and enjoyed his children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events as well as Ohio State football. He was able to travel throughout the US and overseas to visit family and enjoyed his trip to the WW2 Memorial in Washington, DC with the Honor Flight Network. Willard was a member of Bucyrus United Methodist Church and the former Epworth UMC where he served as an usher and was in the Anti-Can’t Sunday school class. He was recently awarded his 50-year pin in Bucyrus Masonic Lodge #139 where he participated in multiple bodies.

Willard is survived by his wife of 65 years, Florence; four children, Diane (Jack) Smith of Bucyrus, Mark (Arcella) Swisher of Lakeland, Fla., Gary (Nina) Swisher of Jakarta, Indonesia and Joel Swisher of Bucyrus; six grandchildren, Amy Maclean, M.Sgt. Andy Swisher, Nicole Swisher, Gary Michael (Rosario) Swisher, Luis (Esmarie) Swisher and Sarah Swisher; and one great grandson, Daniel Swisher.

In addition to his parents, Willard was preceded in death by brother, Gene Swisher and a grandson, Daniel Swisher.

Services for Willard will be held at Wise Funeral Service in Bucyrus on Tuesday, September 2. Masonic rites will be read at 10:00 a.m. and then family will receive friends until the memorial service begins at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Don Kraps officiating. The US Army Honor Guard will conclude services with military rites.

Contributions can be made to Bucyrus UMC and memories shared in the Memorial Guestbook below.



Visitation:

Tuesday, September 2, 2014 10:15-11:00 a.m.

Wise Funeral Service, 129 W. Warren St., Bucyrus, Ohio 44820



Service:

Tuesday, September 2, 2014 11:00 a.m.

Wise Funeral Service, 129 W. Warren St., Bucyrus, Ohio 44820