R. Lee Swigart

R. Lee Swigart, 61, of Valdosta, went to be with Jesus on Saturday, July 23, 2011, as he won his battle with cancer which he fought with a positive attitude for 5 years. Born in Lewistown, PA to the late Russell Claire Swigart and Ethel Goss Swigart, Lee grew up in McVeytown, PA. He graduated from Rothrock High School with a very close nit class in 1967. Lee went on to graduate from Elizabethtown College in Elizabethtown, PA and then joined the U.S. Air Force. He attended officer's training school in San Antonio, TX and then came to Moody Air Force Base for flight school. It was during his flight school at Moody that he met and married the love of his life, Peggy DeCesare. A few years later, their daughter was born while they were stationed in Charleston, SC. After leaving the Air Force, Lee and his family moved back to Valdosta where Lee entered the hardware business. During these days he also completed his Master's degree in Psychology at Valdosta State University. Lee worked in the hardware business in Valdosta for over 25 years, beginning with Scotties and then with Miller Hardware for over 20 years. Lee worked as both a salesman and personnel manager while at Miller. Lee never met a stranger and treated everyone with the upmost kindness and respect. He was a member and deacon at Crossroads Baptist Church. Lee was also instrumental in the merger of Azalea City Baptist Church and Lee Street Baptist Church to create Crossroads Baptist Church. He loved his wife, his daughter and especially his grandchildren very much. When he was first diagnosed with cancer, his daughter was pregnant with his first grandchild. Lee prayed that the Lord would give him five more years in order to get to know his granddaughter and the Lord granted his request and an extra grandson as well.
Survivors include his wife of 38 years, Peggy DeCesare Swigart of Valdosta; his daughter and son in law, Sherry & Jonathon Pentecost of Ft. Myers, FL; two grandchildren, Paisley Mills Pentecost and Judson Lee Pentecost, both of Ft. Myers; a sister in law, Molly McCormick Swigart of Phoenixville PA; three brothers in law and two sisters in law, Roger DeCesare of LaGrange, Michael & Belinda DeCesare of Warner Robins and Bob & Sandra DeCesare of Valdosta; a sister in law and brother in law, Lisa & Lane Wiggins of Dothan, AL; nieces and nephews, Matt Swigart, Stacy Swigart, Jay (Amy) DeCesare, Ashlee Faircloth, Lori (Kent) Tokar, Betsy (Derek) Hopson, Frank DeCesare, Lynn (Mark) Reed, Scott (Amy) Stuart, Janice (Bobby) Goodin, Bobby (Amanda) DeCesare, Blake (Emily) DeCesare, Colby DeCesare, Zane Harris and Gina Harris; and his beloved pet Max. Lee is preceded in death by a brother, Daryl Swigart; a brother in law, James DeCesare, Jr. and his parents in law, Jimmy & Alwilda DeCesare.
A Celebration of Life will be held for Lee at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 30, 2011 at Crossroads Baptist Church. Dr. Ken Alford, Mr. Michael DeCesare, and Rev. Darwin Gearhart will officiate. Entombment will follow in the mausoleum at McLane Riverview Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends on Friday, July 29, 2011 from 5 until 7 p.m. at Carson McLane Funeral Home. Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made to Crossroads Baptist Church, 3001 Country Club Road, Valdosta, GA 31602, Hospice of South Georgia, 2263 Pineview Dr. Valdosta, GA 31602 or The American Cancer Society, Albany Field Office, P.O. Box 1292 Albany, GA 31702. Condolences may be conveyed to the family here on the obituary page at www.mclanefuneralservices.com

Funeral Home:
Carson McLane Funeral Home
2215 North Patterson Street
Valdosta, GA
US 31602