CW3 (Retired) Robert W. "Bob" Swanagon

A Celebration of life service for CW3 (Retired) Robert Wilson "Bob" Swanagon will be at 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 23, 2017, at Western Hills Christian Church with Rev. Dave Menge, pastor officiating.

Burial with full military honors will follow at Fort Sill National Cemetery, Elgin, Oklahoma under the direction of Becker-Rabon Funeral Home.

Robert passed away Friday, the 19th of May at the age of 88. He was born September 8, 1928 in Jonesboro, Arkansas, one of twelve children of Clifton and Sarah Swanagon.  At the age of 17, he graduated from Jonesboro High School.  In 1948, he enlisted in the United States Army. He served in military bases in the United States, Germany, South Korea, and Vietnam.

On February 24, 1952 he married the love of his life, Violet Kommer at First Christian Church in Union, Missouri. They recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary.

During his 21 years of military service, he received the Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters.  In addition, he was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign medal with Device, and the National Defense Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster. He was a veteran of the Korean and Vietnam Wars.  After retiring from his military service at Ft. Bliss, Texas, he and family moved to Lawton, Oklahoma in 1969.  Robert began a career with Sears, Roebuck and Company where he held different sales and managerial positions.  He won several awards from Sears during his years of employment there for outstanding sales and service to the Company.  He retired from Sears in 1987.

Bob was an active member of Western Hills Christian Church since 1962.  He served on various boards and committees at the church and was a Deacon and Treasurer of the church for many years.  He also served as an Elder for numerous years.  His spiritual life was so important to him.  Bob had his own private scripture reading and devotion with prayer every morning.

While living in the community of Lawton, he worked countless hours as a volunteer for VITA at Fort Sill and was a volunteer for many years for the IRS, completing tax preparation for the elderly.  He loved working with the public and those in need.

He is survived by his wife of the home and one son, Robert and Jennifer Swanagon of Evergreen, Colorado, and one daughter, Jan and Clark Williams of Edmond, Oklahoma.  In addition, he is survived by two granddaughters, Sara and Chris Cosenza of Denver, Colorado and Amanda and Jamie Backus of Enid, Oklahoma, and one grandson, Daniel Williams of Norman, Oklahoma.  He has one great granddaughter, Adelle Backus, and one great grandson, Colin Cosenza.  Also, he is survived by two sisters, Mary Lou Cloud, of San Diego, California, and Sue Lloyd of Seattle, Washington.