Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Larry Swain, BHS '67 (1949-2019)

This evening I came upon this sad news... RIP Larry.

 FIND A GRAVE Link


Lawrence Owen Swain
May 22, 1949 - August 24, 2019



Dear Friends,

It is with profound sadness that we share with you the unexpected passing of Rev. Dr. Larry Swain last evening. He and Linda were visiting family in Kansas City.

Dr. Swain served as an Area Minister and later Executive Minister of the American Baptist Churches of Ohio until his retirement in December 2015. He returned last year to serve as ABC Ohio’s Interim Executive Minister after the death of Dr. Ernest Jones. He was serving as Executive Staff Coach for the Region at the time of his passing. Dr. Swain was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, friend, outstanding leader, and man of God.

No information is yet available about calling hours or funeral. We will forward that information to you when it is announced.

In Christ,

Rev. Mark Click
Rev. Jane Gibbons
Executive Ministers










FACEBOOK EXCHANGE 7 YEARS AGO BETWEEN LARRY AND FELLOW CLASSMATE, DAVE LESUEUR

David C LeSueur‎ to Larry Swain
July 11, 2012 ·

Hi Larry - My younger brother Steve and I were looking at some old photos of the Hornets (from Gra-Y) and one picture had you and me, Bill Wolleck, Marc Morningstar, Rick Sorich and Rich Hunsaker in it. So when I saw your name pop up I decided to reconnect. I lived in the San Fernando Valley until 1994 when I moved to Denver. I am married with 4 children and 6 grandchildren. So I hope things are well for you. Dave

Larry Swain's Reply
David - What a surprise! After 45 years since graduation we find each other through a technology that we never dreamed about in our High School days. I do remember the years we played basketball in Gra-Y. That was the extent of my basketball career except for a stint with my church basketball team where everyone was guaranteed to play. I tried out for basketball, and a number of other sports at BHS, but a sports career was never in my future. Always wanted to, but never happened. I remember, I think, that you played for BHS? Had a really good team our senior year.

I currently live near Columbus Ohio. I am the Executive Minister for the American Baptist Churches of Ohio, which is a middle judicatory for the American Baptist Churches. I have been a Baptist Minister for the last 37 years - how bout that!

I am married to my wife of 41 years. I have two grown children and 4 grandchildren.

Unfortunately I will not be able to attend the upcoming BHS 1967 class reunion. I have checked out the alumni web page and except for a few my memory is so bad that I don't remember too many of our fellow HS classmates. That is really sad.

Both my parents are now gone and we sold our family home of 30 years on Keystone Street where my sister Sharon lived after my father died in 1983. I drove past the house last time I was in California and hardly recognized it as the new owners gutted it and added on.

If you have a digital version of any of those old photos I would appreciate seeing one. My email address is lswain@abc-ohio.org.

Hope we can connect on our wall occasionally. It's really good to hear from you.

Larry

JUNE 28, 2020 UPDATE
Steve LeSueur just sent this great photo to include here. Thanks Steve!



Hi Cathy:
I read the obituary you posted of Larry Swain, along with his email exchange with my brother. The photo they discussed is attached, in case you want to place it at the end of the letter. Larry and David played together on a Gray-Y sports team and are holding their basketball championship trophies. David and Larry, who attended Horace Mann together, were in the 5th grade. Larry is the first person on the left in the front row. David is standing to the left behind him. Many of the other boys, including Bill Seager, Richard Hunsaker, Bill Wolleck, Bill McMurrin, and Mike Shaw, also went to Burbank High.
Best regards,
Steve

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