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Chester E. Swinger

Chester Earl Swinger, 86, of Wabash, IN, and having family members in Huntington, IN, died Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, at Parkview Huntington Hospital.

Mr. Swinger was a veteran of the United States Navy. He had worked as a telegraph operator for the Wabash Railroad and had owned and operated Swinger Shell in Michigan, Swinger Shell in Wabash and Swinger 4 Way Shop. He was a member of the Hanna Masonic Lodge.

He was born Oct. 15, 1930, in Dexter, MO, to Herschel Paul and Gladys E. Snider Swinger. He married Shirley Heeter on April 18, 1956, in Peru, and she preceded him in death on Dec. 28, 2005.

He is survived by six daughters, Debbie Sunday, Marcia (Ron) Hensley, Julie Castle, Sherry Swinger and Fern (Jeff) Dillon, all of Wabash; and Mollie (Gary) Hiner, of Huntington; 14 grandchildren, Amy (Bradley) McCarty, of Bryan, OH; Ryan Brown, Aaron Brown, Heather Purvis, Kaleigh Hensley, Sarah Castle, Nathan Castle, Josiah Castle and Bryce Dillon, all of Wabash; Maria (Andy) Swinger-Inskeep, of Colville, WA; Ashley (Todd) Harris and Audrey Hiner, both of Huntington; Joshua Dillon, of Plainfield; and Andrea Dillon, of San Diego, CA; seven great-grandchildren; and two foster children, Becky Walsh, of Fort Wayne, and Keith McDonald, of Madison, OH.

Calling is Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., with a service following at 2 p.m., at Grandstaff-Hentgen Funeral Service, 1241 Manchester Ave., Wabash. Rev. Andy Inskeep will officiate. Burial will be at Memorial Lawns Cemetery, Wabash.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

To sign the online guest book, visit www.grandstaff-hentgen.com.