Edwin Emerson Swain Jr's Obituary
Edwin Emerson Swain, Jr., 93, passed peacefully on Jun 18, 2023, surrounded by his closest family. He was born on May 19, 1930, in Byron, ME and later moved to Bethel, ME where his family established the Swain Family Farm that is still in operation today. Ed spent his childhood contributing to farming duties by picking vegetables, churning butter, and his least favorite task, collecting eggs from the chickens while avoiding the mean rooster ! Attending Gould Academy during his high school years he excelled academically and made many lifelong friendships. He loved to tell a story how he would bring his horse and sleigh to school to take his friends to the ski jump at the Sunday River ski area. Upon graduation in 1948 Ed was awarded a scholarship to attend Bates College where he pursued a degree in chemistry. Within days of graduation, Ed accepted a position with the DuPont Company and was assigned a position at the Savannah River Plant, which was under construction to produce tritium for the newly developed hydrogen bomb. In the early 1950’s with the Korean conflict underway, Ed became concerned that he would be drafted into the Army. Despite working in a top-secret nuclear facility where he was exempt from the draft, Ed voluntarily joined the US Army to serve his nation at war. Because of his keen intellect, he was selected to join the intelligence division and was quickly moved into Asian language training in addition to standard military preparations. He eventually was sent to Korea and joined the counterintelligence corps where he worked with the local community to gather information about North Korean activities. Not being much of a drinker or a smoker, he used his cigarette and liquor rations as payment to informants to keep the conversation open and collected valuable intelligence.
At the conclusion of the war, Ed returned to his employment with DuPont in Georgia where, within a short time, he met his future wife, Eleanor. Married in 1960, the couple accepted various assignments with DuPont in Poughkeepsie, NY and later in Wilmington, DE. After purchasing a home in Chadds Ford, PA, the Swain family grew to four and the family set down roots. Raising two sons, Ed was active in his community and served on the county planning board and later, when his sons were students in the public school system, he was elected to the Unionville-Chadds Ford district school board where he would serve as President for many years. He always said the many hours he spent in his office on Sundays doing school board work was worth it if he could make the school system better for his sons. His reward for his efforts was the gift of presenting both his sons their high school diplomas at graduation, an honor that made him and his sons very proud. With kids graduated, Ed took the opportunity to move on to other challenges and he retired from DuPont after 37 years. He joined the Bayer Corporation in Pittsburgh, PA for 3 years as a consultant for product safety.
When it came time to fully retire, he listened to his Southern wife and decided to move to Keowee Key, SC with summers spent at their beloved summer home on Mooselookmeguntic Lake in Rangeley, ME. There, they spent 27 wonderful years surrounded by old friends and countless new ones in their transplanted new hometown. At Keowee Key, Ed enjoyed playing golf, entertaining friends, and volunteering with Habitat for Humanity. In Maine, he enjoyed volunteering for the Lake Stewards of Maine, golfing, kayaking , sailing, blueberry picking, gardening and visiting with his grandchildren, relatives and friends. Moving once again in 2017, Ed and Eleanor relocated to the John Knox Village in Orange City, FL. Of course, they made many new friends there too and continued to enjoy dinners out, golfing, musical concerts at Stetson University, and visiting nearby state parks.
Ed is survived by his wife Eleanor, sister Henrietta, two sons Ed and Bill. Bill’s wife Julie and two grandchildren Maggie and Will.
The family is planning a celebration of life ceremony in John Knox Village in July, date is pending,
and a Celebration of Life will take place Saturday, August 19, 2023 at 3:00 PM to be held at Oquossoc Log Church, 4 Carry Road, Oquossoc, Maine.
What’s your fondest memory of Edwin?
What’s a lesson you learned from Edwin?
Share a story where Edwin's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Edwin you’ll never forget.
How did Edwin make you smile?