KENNETH C. SWARTOUT
OXFORD - Kenneth C. Swartout 90, of Oxford passed away Thursday morning, December 10, 2015 at the Oxford Veteran's Home in Oxford.
Ken was born in Hartwick, NY on February 10, 1925 the son of Cortland Kenneth Swartout and Mildred (Lyon) Swartout. During his childhood and the depression his family moved many times to different farms for work. When Ken was 16 he quit school to work at the Cathedral Farms in Oneonta, the Oneonta Bakery and anywhere else there was work until he was drafted by the U. S. Army at age 18. He was inducted on May 23, 1943 and entered into active service on June 9, 1943. He was sent to Texas, California and Wisconsin for his military training. On November 23, 1944 he departed for England and arrived there on December 4, 1944 to fight in the Ardennes, Central Europe and Rhineland battles with Company F, 417th Infantry, and 76th Infantry Division under General Patton. He was a survivor of "The Battle of The Bulge" and was able to come home after the war was over on August 17, 1945 and was (Honorably) discharged (on) February 28, 1946. After the war Ken worked on a farm in Mt. Vision then later moved to Oxford where he worked for Childs Oil Company in Norwich then worked for Ken Thompson Fuel Company delivering gas and oil then worked for Blue Ox for over 30 years. He was a Member of the Oxford American Legion for 43 years and was a Member of Oxford Fire Department for many years.
On December 3rd 1943 he married Faith Martindale and they had two daughters Jeanne & Ed Tighe of Leland, NC and Janice Meade of New Berlin. On October 22,
1982 Ken married Cora Savory who has 5 children. Joseph C. & Patty Burdick, of Oxford, Linda & Albert Denz of Oxford, James & Wendy Burdick of Dickson, TN, Reginald & Maureen Savory of Pompey, NY and Corinna and Daniel Oliver of Norwich. He is also survived by a sister Mary Phelps of Concord, NC and a brother Dennis Swartout and wife Donna of Edmeston and many nieces and nephews. Ken and Cora have many wonderful grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Ken loved, cars, watching NASCAR Racing, country music, dancing and travelling. Ken and Cora travelled in all the states and in 1989 travelled to Germany with many other veterans to go over the routes he had fought in the war. We also took a bus trip to Washington to see the WW II Memorial.
Ken was predeceased by his parents, his first wife Faith Martindale, his brother Richard Swartout, his sister Phyllis Austreng and his grandson Frankie LaCorte.
Calling hours will be on Saturday December 12th at 1:00 pm at the Behe Funeral Home in Oxford. In lieu of flowers please donate to the Oxford Fire Station in Oxford, NY.