Frederick L. Swigart

He was born Aug. 14, 1929, at Ferguson Valley Road, McVeytown. He was the youngest son of the late Reverend Wilbur C. and Blanche (Rhodes) Swigart. He was the last surviving sibling, having outlived four sisters, Mary Anderson, Ruth Decker, Catherine and Martha Swigart and three brothers, Harold, John and George. His wife, Betty A. (Erb) Swigart, whom he married Oct. 14, 1950, preceded him in death on Jan. 11, 2023.

Surviving are sons, Roger L. Swigart and wife, Virginia, of Lewistown, Dean A. Swigart and wife, Debora, of McClure and daughter, Karen A. Sauder and husband, Lonnie, of Elizabethtown; five grandchildren, Drew Swigart and wife, Julia, of Lewisburg, Chad Swigart and wife, Lindsey of Lewistown, Kamda (Swigart) Bracken and husband, Ryan, of Elizabethtown, Tucker Swigart and wife, Regan, of Loysville and Dylan Sauder, of Marietta; and eight great-grandchildren, Elise, Bryce, Ivey, Jacob, Lita, Elliott, Rose, and Finnegan.

Frederick grew up on a farm in Ferguson Valley. He graduated from McVeytown Oliver High School, Class of 1948. He served in the Korean War from 1950 to 1952 in the 981st Engineer Construction Battalion, then transferred to the Detachment A, Medical Service, of the U.S. Army’s 382nd General Hospital, Kanoaka, Japan. Following his service, he was employed at Charles Bernstein, Erbs Body Shop and then became the owner/operator of Swigart’s Body Shop from 1966 to 1990. He was also secretary of the Ferguson Valley Mutual Insurance Company, an agent of the Juniata Mutual Insurance Company and owner/ operator of the Fred L. Swigart Insurance Agency. He farmed in Decatur Township from 1957 to 2003 and served as the Decatur Township auditor for many years. He was the first president of the Middlecreek Valley Council of Churches.

As an active member of the Lawver’s United Methodist Church, he served on committees and various offices and was Superintendent of the Sunday School for many years.

In retirement, he enjoyed crafting various projects and helpful tools for daily use. He would see a predicament, ponder a solution and make a product to solve the problem. He enjoyed his vacations to Saint George Island in Maryland where he went yearly since his birth. He really enjoyed interacting with friends and family at every opportunity.

A viewing will be held from 9 to 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, at Heller-Hoenstine Funeral Home, 108 First Avenue, Burnham with a funeral service to follow at10 a.m. with his grandson, Cdr. Drew Swigart officiating.

Interment will take place at Samuel’s Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Frederick to Alzheimer’s Association P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011 or to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741.

Online condolences may be offered to the family at hellerhoen stinefuneralhome.com.