Swidzinski

The Rev. Larry A. Swidzinski, 56, of Bonniebrook Road died at 4:35 p.m. Monday at his home after a 37-year battle with cancer.

Born March 22, 1950, in Butler, he was the son of Betty Yost Swidzinski and the late Albert Swidzinski, who died in 2001.

He graduated from Capital University and the Trinity Lutheran Seminary, both in Columbus, Ohio. Following graduation from Trinity, he was called to Taylor, Texas, where for nine years, he served as pastor at the Prince of Peace and Immanuel Lutheran churches.

In 1985, he was called as pastor of St. Luke Lutheran Church in Taylorsville, N.C., and served until 2001. He then returned to Butler and did an interim ministry at First Lutheran Church in Beaver Falls until 2006.

In addition to his pastoral responsibilities, he was always involved in community activities as a coach in recreational sports and in educational organizations such as parent-teacher organizations.

He also was an avid gardener, and he was known for his sense of humor and his often displayed impish smile.

Surviving are his wife, Carol King Swidzinski; two daughters and their husbands, Jami L. and Jeff Conaway of Sarver and Debi L. and Alex Giocondo of Butler; his mother of Butler; two brothers, Gary Swidzinski and Rodney Swidzinski and his wife, Fran, all of Butler; two nephews, Corey and Tim Swidzinski of Butler; and a host of aunts, uncles and cousins.

A daughter, Christine Swidzinski, died in 1989.

<B>SWIDZINSKI </B>— Friends of the Rev. Larry A. Swidzinski, who died Monday, March 12, 2007, will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. today and from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the <B>Thompson-Miller Funeral Home</B>, 124 E. North St.Visitation also will be held from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Friday at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Sarver, where services will follow at 10 a.m. with the Rev. Emery Barnett officiating.Burial will follow at Gruenwald Cemetery, Summit Township.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church Building Fund, 409 Sarver Road, Sarver, PA 16055; Good Samaritan Hospice, 3500 Brooktree Road, Suite 320, Wexford, PA 15090; St. Luke Lutheran Church, 1364 Church Road, Taylorville, NC 28681; Immanuel Lutheran Church, 411 County Road 401, Taylor, TX 76574; or to Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 3101 County Road 417, Taylor, TX 76574.Condolences may be e-mailed to the family at inquiry@thompson-miller.com. Information and private guest book is available at www.thompson-miller.com.