Obituary of Richard Lee Swartz

Richard Lee Swartz, 68, of Roanoke, VA and formerly of Stow, died June 27, 2011, at Lewis-Gale Medical Center in Salem, VA, due to complications arising from cancer of the esophagus.  Richard was born April 3, 1943, in Ravenna, OH, to Richard and Eloise Swartz, and was raised in West Virginia until grade school age before moving to Stow, OH. Richard was a 1960 graduate of Stow High School and a 1969 graduate of the University of South Florida.  He served in the United States Air Force from 1960 to 1964.  After receiving his law degree (J.D.) from the University of Notre Dame in 1972, he joined the law practice of Doug Reading in Wabash, IN, where he later formed his own independent practice.  In 1990, he became an administrative law judge (ALJ) for the Social Security Administration Office of Hearings and Appeals.  He served in Johnstown, PA from 1990 to 2000, and then in Roanoke, VA from 2000 until his retirement in 2011. In the community, Richard was a member of the Scottish Rite Freemasons 32nd Degree, the Shriners International, and the Hanna Lodge.  He enjoyed the company of his friends at Smith Mountain Lake, he loved music and travel, and he was an avid animal lover. Richard is survived by his wife, Nancy, and his children:  one son, Richard Alfred Swartz of Bangkok, Thailand, and two stepdaughters, Megan Oeth of Minneapolis, MN, and Mandy Showalter of Nashville, TN.  He is also survived by his father, Richard William Swartz of Ravenna;  two brothers:  Ricky Swartz, also of Ravenna, and Randy Swartz of Youngstown;  two sisters, Becky Gordon of San Francisco, CA, and Beverly Tucker of St. Petersburg, FL.   Along with his family, Richard will be missed by two beloved companions:  one dog, Gracie, and one parrot, Polly. Friends are invited to Redmon Funeral Home for visitation Friday 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 PM, where Pastor Jerry Witt will conduct service Saturday 10 AM.  Burial Silver Springs Cemetery.