David Swift

Veteran, FAA Air Traffic Controller and longtime AV resident passes at age 90
Lancaster- David Warren Swift passed after a long illness on April 23, 2016. He was born
October 29, 1925 in Mosinee, Wisconsin and raised there by his parents Ray and Lois Swift,
along with his brothers John and Dan and sister Rachael. On October 26, 1943 at the age of 18
David enlisted in the Navy and served until July 25, 1946. He was stationed in Guam during the
Japanese occupation as a radioman. He worked with the Navajo Code Talkers, a code never
broken, which was declassified in 1968. For this service he was awarded the American Theater
Ribbon, Victory Medal, and the Pacific Theater Ribbon.
He married Clara Angela Geier on April 24, 1946, with whom he raised 6 children. He worked
several jobs in Mosinee and Wausau Wisconsin including the Old Fashioned Potato Chip
Company (owned by his father-in-law), Bear Store Small Appliance Shop, Coca Cola Company,
and North Central Airlines in Wausau where he befriended employees of the CAA (later to
become the FAA) He was encouraged to test and was hired by the CAA as an Air Traffic Control
Specialist. It was this job that brought him to Whittier, Calif. in May, 1957. In 1960 he
transferred to the Antelope Valley to the FAA Palmdale Center where he continued until 1979.
After his Federal retirement he worked as a repairman at Pat O’Brien’s Appliance until 1993,
but continued doing repair work for years because, well, people who knew him/of him just
would not let him retire.
He was a member of the US Naval Cryptologic Veterans Association, the American Eagles, the
American Legion, the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society, Voiture Nationale, Republican
National Committee, and a charter member of the Latin American Club of Antelope Valley,
David is survived by his children Constance (Gordon) Brzezinski, Sandra (Robert) Moore, David
Swift, Michael (Ellen) Swift, James (Cynthia) Swift, Debra (George) Tubo, 14 grandchildren
(Sheri, Scott, Jamie, Tammi, Pamela, Donavan, Coreen, Spring, Brandon, Tawny, Trista, Delia,
Shana, and Matthew) as well as 18 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great grandchildren. He is
also survived by his partner of 44 years, Vera Gardner, her children Joel, Brian, daughter-in-law
Darcy, 5 grandchildren, and many wonderful nieces and nephews.
Viewing will be held Friday April 29, from 3-3:30p.m. at Halley Olsen Mortuary at 44831 North
Cedar, followed at 4p.m. by a service.