Walter Leroy Swart

Walter Leroy Swart 1919-2023
Walter Leroy Swart passed from this life at the age of 103 on March 30, 2023, in Cordell, Oklahoma. Walter was born September 25, 1919 to German immigrant Herman Swart and Bessie Kleiner Swart in their home at Rocky, Oklahoma. He was the fourth child of eight children born to Herman and Bessie. Walter began school at Rocky, Oklahoma in 1925 and was a member of the greatest generation and later joined the Navy in December 1943 as a welding instructor and ship fitter in Subic Bay, Philippines and New Guinea.
The Swart family consisted of his parents and two girls followed by six boys. Preceding Walter in death by his wife of 78 years, Wanda "Florene" Lady Swart, his parents, Herman and Bessie Swart, and siblings, Georgia Owen, Gladys Cacey, Charles, Mearl, Earl, Lewis, Robert.
Walter returned to Washita County in December 1946 as a farmer and continued farming, his lifelong passion, until retiring in 1981. He attended "GI School" at Rocky with community Veterans to be equipped with skills to be a successful farmer in 1953.
However, he really never retired. His love of cattle, farming and gardening was his passion until his death.
Walter worked for R E A in 1938-39 at Cordell, making 25 cents an hour and went to N W Mountain View to dig electrical posts by hand with a straight shovel when the machine shaft broke.
One of his best memories was backpacking in Europe in the summer of 1992 with his son Gary and daughter Marla. They were able to visit the birthplace of his father, Herman, at Mitling-Mark, Germany.
Walter is survived by son Gary and wife Ruby of Yukon, Oklahoma, daughter Marla Harper and husband Jackie of Cordell, Oklahoma, grandchildren April Menge and husband Donald of El Reno, Oklahoma, Shara Garmon and husband David of Cordell, Oklahoma Chad Gorshing and wife Christian of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Ashton McMahan and husband Steve of Mangum, Oklahoma. He is also survived by his great grandchildren Paige Owens and husband Ethan of Yukon, Kaylee Wendt and husband Kade of Weatherford, Oklahoma, Kyle Menge and wife Jordan of Mustang, Oklahoma, Kara Menge of El Reno, Oklahoma, Alyssa Gorshing of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Kaytem Garmon of Weatherford, Oklahoma, Elizabeth and Eli McMahan of Mangum, Oklahoma and great great grandchild Brooks Owens of Yukon, Oklahoma.
Walter is also survived by his sisters in law Evelyn Barrett of Visalia, California and Rachel Swart of Centerville, Texas as well as many nieces and nephews and other family members. Special family members Kyle Harper and wife Makenzie of Cordell, Oklahoma.
The family would like to give a special thanks to the dedicated staff and management of Shepherd Home Health Care and Cordell Hospital for their loving care of Walter.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Cordell Senior Citizens 216 West 1", Cordell, Oklahoma, Cordell Methodist Church 216 South Glenn English Cordell, Oklahoma or Rocky Lone Star Cemetery 12647 N. 2230 Rd, Rocky, Oklahoma.




Funeral Service: 2:00 p.m., Monday, April 3, 2023
United Methodist Church, Cordell, Oklahoma

Visitation: 1:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., Saturday, April 1, 2023
1:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m, Sunday, April 2, 2023
Ray & Martha's Funeral Home, Cordell, Oklahoma
Family Visitation: 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., Sunday, April 2, 2023
Ray & Martha's Funeral Home, Cordell, Oklahoma
Interment: Lonestar Cemetery, Rocky, Oklahoma

Under the direction of Ray & Martha's Funeral Home, Cordell, Oklahoma