Kenneth Loren Swinford
Kenneth Loren Swinford, a man of integrity, loyalty, fairness, generosity, exceptional humor, and a student of life's adventures lived life fully. He deeply loved his wife, children, his family and friends.
Ken was born on Jan. 10, 1931, in Joliet, Ill. He had many gifts which he shared freely, including his beautiful voice. As a boy soprano in Joliet, he graced many a church service, wedding, and memorial service as a soloist.
He directed the acapella choir in high school and performed in and directed operettas, musicals and church choirs.
Ken's love of country led him to enlist in the Navy at age 19, where he served on the USS Mispillion in the Korean War as a corpsman.
He graduated from Pepperdine College, worked as an insurance adjuster, and in 1967 was appointed special consultant to the California Commission on Aging by Gov. Ronald Reagan, which began his long career in the field of aging.
Ken then became the staff director over the Older American's Act programs and developed the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), directed the statewide Senior Nutrition Program, and retired in 1996 as the state long-term care ombudsman.
In retirement Ken excelled in woodworking, had a passion for golf, ran in the Portland Marathon at age 70, loved singing in his rich bass voice, and in recent years enjoyed boating, hiking trails near his Sandpoint, Idaho, home and loved the outdoors and nature's beauty.
Also in this chapter of life Ken became a devoted founding board member of the Spiritual Life Center in Sacramento and was honored to volunteer countless hours, was active in the choir, chaired committees, and was dedicated to his church family and to his spirituality.
After realizing a dream of moving to Idaho in 2005, Ken was diagnosed in January 2007 with metastatic melanoma and underwent treatment. He was valiant throughout, finding comfort in his faith, his family and friends.
Ken was surrounded in love, prayer, and music as he slipped into his next journey on May 10, 2007.
He is survived by his wife, Gaea Swinford of Sandpoint; a brother, Bill Swinford of Kent, Wash.; a sister, Jeanne Drew of Lynnwood, Ill.; a son, Steven Swinford of Sacramento, Calif.; two daughters, Laurie Rainford and Suzi Swinford, both Lafayette, Ind.; two grandchildren, Angie and Kris Brown; and great-grandson Christian Sanders.
Numerous nephews, nieces, and spiritual family both in Sacramento and Sandpoint that will miss him terribly.
A celebration of Ken's life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 2, 2007, at his home in Sandpoint, 2975 Ontario St.
Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit Ken's memorial at www.lakeviewfuneral.com and sign his online guest book.