David Lowry Swain

We mourn the death of David Lowry Swain who died due to Alzheimer's dementia on June 5, 2015, at Givens Estates, Asheville, NC. Born in Asheville on December 13, 1927, he is predeceased by his parents, William Alexander Swain, Jr. and Frances Oliver Swain, and by his brother, William Alexander Swain, III. A life-long learner, David's education began at Grace Elementary School, and continued through city schools (Lee H. Edwards High School, '44), and Biltmore College. He joined the U.S. Navy V5 program briefly at Duke University and remained there to earn his AB degree in 1948 and M.Div. degree in 1951. Additional graduate study was done at Yale, Harvard and UNC Chapel Hill. Ordained in the Western North Carolina Conference of the Methodist Church in 1951, he began his professional career as Director of the Wesley Foundation at UNC Chapel Hill from 1949-52 at which time he and wife Betty were recruited by the Methodist Church Board of Missions to help rebuild a university student program in post-WWII Tokyo, Japan. After Japanese language study at Yale, David, Betty and baby daughter set sail for Japan in 1953 where they were received and appointed by the United Church of Christ in Japan, until their retirement in 1993. In the early years, David worked with students in various organizations, particularly in the World Student Christian Federation as Secretary for Research and Publications. In 1983 David gave up ordination status to better facilitate his ministry as a lay person within the Japanese culture. Well-known in his later years for his many articles and books, and for his strong advocacy of peace and justice, he was awarded the Japan Translation Cultural prize as co-translator of the first comprehensive study of the events and results of the 1945 nuclear bombings with the publication of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: the Physical, Medical and Social Effects of the Atomic Bomb. In 1993, David and Betty retired to Lake Junaluska where David was active in the College for Seniors at UNCA, teaching courses related to his understanding of the arts and culture of Japan as well as some history and interesting characters associated with the Asian world. In 2008, the Swains moved to Givens Estates in Asheville, NC. His survivors include his wife of 66 years, Betty Sisk Swain, his children, Lillian Roberta, Tokyo, Japan; John Edward (Alice), Dothan, AL; Paul Frederic, Plano, TX; Anna Frances, (Martin Yasueda), Fremont, CA; Dinah Lee, St. Paul, MN; brother Joe O. Swain (Barbara), Corvallis, OR; sister Sally Mull (Vernon), Greensboro, NC; sister-in-law Molly M. Swain, Oneonta, NY; seven grandchildren and one great grandchild. David led a rich life, full of blessings and engagement with family, friends and colleagues around the world. The family is grateful for the many people who were a part of his and our lives, and for the help and loving concern expressed these past few months. We are especially grateful for CarePartners Hospice team, the many skilled caregivers at Givens Health Center, and Memory Care's guidance in his last Earthly journey. There will be a service of Thanksgiving and Remembrance at the Pulliam Chapel in Asbury Commons at Givens Estates, at 2:00 PM Saturday, June 20. There will be an interment service on September 12, 2015 at 2:00 PM at Asbury Memorial UMC, 171 Beaverdam Rd., Asheville, NC 28804. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Cradle of Forestry, a tax-exempt non-profit dedicated to forestry conservation in David's beloved North Carolina mountains. This is where he began his journey and where it was completed. Please make checks payable to CFAIA with Cradle of Forestry – David Swain in the memo line. Mail to Cradle of Forestry, 49 Pisgah Highway, Suite 4, Pisgah Forest, NC 28768.