Mr. Russell David McSwain, age 83, of Indianapolis, Indiana, formerly of Switzerland County, Indiana, entered this life on January 1, 1932, in Patriot, Indiana, the loving son of the late, Emerson G. and Edna G. (Garard) McSwain. He was raised in Switzerland County and was a 1949 graduate of the Patriot High School. Russell was inducted into the United States Army on September 25, 1952 at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, serving during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Staff Sergeant on June 24, 1954 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Russell was united in marriage on July 24, 1954 at the Concord Community Church in Patriot, Indiana, to Vera Marie Schroeder and to this union arrived two sons, Kevin and Brian to bless their home. Russell and Vera shared 61 loving years of marriage together until his death. Russell worked for Danbury Appliance in Rising Sun before beginning his career with the US Shoe Corporation (9 West). He was a former Industrial Engineer for a majority of his US Shoe career, serving the Vevay, Madison and Osgood, Indiana factories. He retired after 41 years of service as the Florence, Indiana dye shop plant manager. Russell was a founding board member of the Community Foundation of Switzerland County, where he and his family established the Kevin W. McSwain Memorial Fund for the Pacer Band after Kevin suddenly passed away at the age of 25 on March 12, 1989. Russell was a founding member of the Swiss Wine Festival Committee and was Co-Chairman with Mike Danner. Russell and Vera resided all of their lives in the Switzerland County community until moving in 2008 to the Indianapolis community to be near their son and grandchildren. Russell was a community leader where he took an active role in his community and enjoyed helping others, especially his family and friends. Russell enjoyed garden tractor pulling, watching college basketball and the Cincinnati Reds, farming and keeping a meticulous home and lawn. Russell was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, brother-in-law, uncle and dear friend. He will be dearly missed by his family, friends and his community. Russell passed away with his loving family at his side and joined his beloved son, Kevin at 5:50 am, Sunday, August 16, 2015, at his residence in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Russell will be dearly missed by his loving wife of 61 years: Mrs. Vera Marie (Schroeder) McSwain of Indianapolis, IN; his son: Brian McSwain & his wife: Susan of Indianapolis, IN; his grandchildren: Heather Dornbusch & her husband: Ben, Benjamin D. McSwain, Brianna M. McSwain & Jenna M. McSwain of Indianapolis, IN; his great-granddaughter: Clara Dornbusch of Indianapolis, IN; his sisters: Wilma Jean Fels of Cincinnati, OH & Mary Lou Hart of Madison, IN; his brother: James W. McSwain & his wife: Charlene of Decatur, IN; his sister-in-law: Marguerite Schroeder of Bedford, IN & his several nieces & nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents: Emerson G. & Edna G. (Garard) McSwain; his son: Kevin W. McSwain, died March 12, 1989; his brother-in-laws: Harold Fels, died December 25, 2009 & Harold Schroeder, died July 6, 2002 & his sister-in-law: Irene Smith, died April 16, 1998.

Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, August 19, 2015, at 11:00 am, by Pastor KC Banta, at the Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home, 208 Ferry Street Vevay, Indiana 47043.

Interment will follow in the Vevay Cemetery, Vevay, Indiana.

Friends may call 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Tuesday, August 18, 2015, at the Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home 208 Ferry Street Vevay, Indiana 47043.

Full military rites will be conducted by the Honor Guard of the Vevay American Legion Post #185 and the Vevay VFW Post #5396 at the cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Kevin W. McSwain Memorial Fund for the Pacer Band % Community Foundation of Switzerland County. Cards are available at the funeral home.

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