Hardware Store Owner Swinney Dies

John Arthur Swinney Sr., former owner of Swinney Hardware, died Wednesday in Tulsa. He was 79.

A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Church of the Madalene under the direction of the Fitzgerald Funeral Service.

Born in Sapulpa, Swinney graduated from Holy Family High School and helped his family start its hardware store at 14 N. Lewis Ave. in 1941.

In 1942 he was drafted into the Army. He served in the Medical Corps in the Philippine Islands during World War II. There he earned the rank of staff sergeant.

Upon returning home from the war, Swinney attended the Oklahoma School of Accountancy. In 1945 he took over Swinney Hardware when his father, James Swinney, died. The family business is now in the hands of his son, John Swinney Jr. John Swinney Sr. was an active member of the Knights of Columbus, serving as both state secretary and grand knight. He attended St. Francis Xavier Church and Church of the Madalene for many years.

He is survived by his wife, Mable Elizabeth of the home; a daughter, Joan Atkins of Tulsa; son John A. Swinney Jr.; a brother, James Swinney Jr., of Grove; three sisters, Judith Tourigny and Ruth Myers, both of Tulsa, and Josephine Brandt of Oologah; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Friends are donating to Catholic Charities and the American Diabetes Foundation