Carl S. Swanhall

Past President Of Lions Club, Active In Town

Carl S. Swanhall, 77, husband of Jean (Todd) Swanhall of Sandy Hook, died March 24 in Danbury Hospital surrounded by his family. He was born in Bridgeport on July 12, 1929, a son of Oscar and Barbara (Prion) Swanhall.

Mr Swanhall was a graduate of Roger Ludlowe High School in Fairfield. He was a Korean War Veteran, serving from 1951 to 1953 in the US Army Infantry. Mr Swanhall retired from Sikorsky Aircraft in 1992 after many years of service as a purchasing agent.

Mr Swanhall was a 35-year member and past president of the Newtown Lions Club. He was a Melvin Jones fellow of the Lions Club International Foundation, an Ambassador of Sight, and was awarded the Presidents Appreciation Award from the Lions Low Vision Centers of Fairfield and New Haven Counties. Mr Swanhall was recently honored with lifetime membership from the International Association of Lions Clubs. Over the years, Mr Swanhall served on numerous committees for the Newtown Lions and served as district chairman for the Zone 2 cabinet. He was instrumental in the formation of the Leo Club at Newtown High School and served on the Board of Education Services For the Blind in South Windsor.

Mr Swanhall served on the Newtown Board of Tax Review, Newtown Planning and Zoning Commission, and was a constable for the Town of Newtown. He was a member of the Newtown High School Band Parents Association and was a director of the Striders Fife and Drum Corps.

Before moving to Newtown, he was a member of the Milford Jaycees and was a director for Junior Achievement. He was a member of the Watertown United Methodist Church and enjoyed square dancing and boating.

In addition to his wife of 54 years, his children, Keith Swanhall and his wife, Christa, of Oakville, Deborah Joudy and her husband, Joseph, of Southbury, Donna Tichy and her husband, Thomas, of Oxford and Brian Swanhall and his wife, Rose, of Cobbleskill, N.Y., survive Mr Swanhall. His 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, who brought so much joy into his life, will sadly miss him.

Funeral services were held March 28 in the Honan Funeral Home, Newtown. Interment with military honors followed in Resurrection Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Low Vision Center & Eye Research, c/o Newtown Lions Club, PO Box 218, Newtown CT 06470.

The Newtown Bee        March 30, 2007