Charles Swafford

Charles Philip “C.P.” Swafford, age 88 of Dayton died at his home early Sunday morning May 27, 2007 while surrounded by his family. C.P. was born in Pikeville on October 18, 1918 the son of the late Samuel and Della (Hutcheson) Swafford and was also preceded in death by his son Phil Swafford, brother, Frank Swafford and two sisters, Helen Burns and Mary Joe Beckham.

C.P. was a graduate of the Bledsoe County High School Class of 1936. He then attended Emory and Henry University and University of Tennessee-Knoxville and then earned his law degree at Cumberland University in Lebanon graduating in 1946. He served his country with the US Army Air Corps as a Captain and piloted a B-17 during WWII in the European Theatre. Later, C.P. retired in 1970 as a Lt. Colonel with the US Air Force Reserves after 20 years of service.

C.P. lived in Dayton most of his life where he was an attorney and also had served as an Assistant District Attorney with the 18th Judicial Circuit of Tennessee. He was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church in Dayton. C.P. was a founder of the Dayton Rotary Club and a recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow award. He also was a founder of the Dayton Golf & Country Club and was an avid golfer.

C.P. is survived by his wife of 62 years, Mary Frances (Lee) Swafford, his son, Sam (Cyndie) Swafford of Dayton, daughter-in-law, Pat Swafford Arnold of Dayton, six grandchildren and five great- grandchildren.

Funeral services for C.P. will be held Tuesday afternoon at 1:00pm in the funeral home chapel with Rev. John Anderson officiating. Burial will be in Rhea Memory Gardens with full military honors.Pallbearers are Wendell Brown, Joe Burns, Phillip Burns, Everett Roberson, T. Jack Robinson and Frank Welch. Honorary Pallbearers are Gary Drinkard, Bill Hilleary, Larry Pendergrass, Rick Sharp, Cecil Smith and Tom Taylor.

The family is being served by the Vanderwall Funeral Home in Dayton where they will receive friends Tuesday morning after 11:00am.

Please share your memories with the family on their on-line guest register at www.vanderwallfh.com .

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in C.P.’s memory to the First United Methodist Church in Dayton or to Home Health Care of East Tennessee Hospice.