Funeral for Billy (Bill) Neal Swafford will be at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday September 22, 2015, at Becker-Rabon Funeral Home Chapel in Lawton with Rev. Cliff Gravitt and Rev. Michael Williamson, pastor of Northside Baptist Church officiating. Burial will follow in Fletcher Cemetery. The family will greet friends from 6 to 7 p.m. Monday, September 21, 2015, at the funeral home. Bill Swafford, age 83, of Lawton, passed away at his home on Wednesday, September 16, 2015, after several months of failing health. Bill was born in Thomaston, Alabama, on March 15, 1932, to Luther Carl Swafford and Tamara Eastel (Rice) Swafford. The family moved multiple times during the Great Depression to find work. Bill attended school in Alabama and Georgia. His father worked for the WPA until being called back to work on the railroad. Bill was fortunate to attend Martha Berry School in Rome, Georgia, where he learned carpentry and mechanical trades. Bill enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1951 and saw combat in Korea during the Korean Conflict. He was a proud Marine during and after his service and achieved the rank of sergeant. He was honorably discharged from the Marines in 1959. After leaving the Marine Corps, Bill worked for Toddle House as a cook and for Mobile Alabama General Hospital as an ambulance driver. He later worked for Denny's Restaurants as a cook and eventually became an opening supervisor for new Denny's stores in California, Nevada, and New Mexico. While in New Mexico, Bill started working for Modern Homes Construction Company and later transferred to Lawton. He owned a laundry equipment business for a few years and then worked for a Holiday Inn franchisee as a maintenance engineer for properties in Oklahoma, Oregon, and Texas. Bill's outside interests included aviation and he became a licensed general aviation pilot. He and his close friend, Cecil Whatley, shared a love for flying. Bill was an active member of AMBUCs service club and enjoyed the friendships he made as an AMBUC. Bill was a member of Northside Baptist Church and was tireless in helping with maintenance at the church facility. Bill and his first wife, Gloria, had two children, Mark and Carol. Bill met and married Mary Roberts Pebworth while in New Mexico. Together they shared many interesting times for 48 years. Bill loved his family that included his two step-children, James and Catherine. He was preceded in death by his father, Luther Carl Swafford, his mother, Tamara Eastel (Rice) Swafford, and his two sisters, Betty Johnson and Barbara Wells. He is survived by his wife, Mary Swafford, of the home, children Mark Swafford and Carol Swafford of Dearborn, Michigan, step-son James Pebworth of Lawton, step-daughter, Catherine Claybrook and her husband Duane Claybrook of Owasso, Oklahoma, granddaughters Sarah Fisher and Samantha Claybrook of Owasso, Oklahoma, nephews Donnie Wayne Johnson of Harrisburg, North Carolina, and Danny Johnson and Ken Wells, of Jasper, Alabama. Contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 5700 N. Portland, Suite 203, Oklahoma City, OK 73112.