LESLIE N. SWALLING
Enormous amounts of energy, love and talent are now gone from this world with the passing of Leslie ‘Les’ N. Swalling on September 5, 2003, at the age of 57. Les was born to Phyllis ‘Nonie’ and Adolph ‘Adie’ Swalling on September 9, 1946 in Bremerton, WA.
He graduated from Anacortes High School in 1964 and joined the U.S. Army in 1965. Les was stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina as a company clerk. He served one year of combat duty in Pleiku, Vietnam. At the time of his honorable discharge in 1968 he was in the Airborne Unit. Les was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Vietnam Service Medial, the National Defense Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and earned his parachutist and sharpshooter badges.
Les worked in the plywood mill in Anacortes and as a Commercial Fisherman. He moved his family to Portland and worked at Gilmore Steel Corporation from 1973 thru 1976. Les then moved back to Anacortes to work for Whitney/Fidelgo as a Maintenance Foreman from 1976 thru 1979 and then Cap Santa Marina as a Shop Foreman from 1979 thru 1981.
He earned his Associates Degree from Skagit Valley College and a certificate of Supervisory Management from Clark College. With his various training in trade and safety he began his career as a Hydro-maintenance Machinist for Seattle City Light at the Skagit Project in 1981. He actively and enthusiastically utilized his skills and knowledge as a machinist, lead and supervised in the rebuild of twenty-two generators. He and his crew were awarded the ‘1994 ‘ Pride, Power and Light Award’. Les was Safety Secretary, Machinist Local #79 Shop Steward, taught rigging to Seattle City Light employees and served on the Machinist Apprenticeship Committee. He retired in 2002 as the Machinist Supervisor, Generation.
It was during his time with Seattle City Light that he met a fellow worker, Nancy L. Ballard. They were joined in marriage on March 21, 1992 in Custer, WA. His life was full of adventure. He enjoyed scuba diving, four wheeling, dirt biking, hunting, fishing camping boating and was an amateur astronomer. After he retired he spent many hours crafting in his wood shop. He and his wife had recently opened YaKaTa Studio, making creations in wood and clay. Les was especially proud to be a Steward for the Skagit Land Trust, Tope Ryan Natural Area.
Les is survived by his wife Nancy Swalling, 2 daughters, Denise and her husband Cruz Buendia, Rhonda and her husband Steve Mackey; Stepson, Kirk Ballard and his wife Joanne; Mother, Phyllis ‘Nonie’ Swalling; sister, Phyllis and her husband John Van Sant; brother, Ron Swalling; 5 grandchildren and numerous nephews and other relatives. Les was preceded in death by his father and best friend Adie Swalling.
A Celebration of his Life will be held Saturday, September 13, 2003 at 3:00 p.m. at the Lemley Chapel in Sedro-Woolley with a reception following the Swalling home in Sedro-Woolley. Memorials may be made to; Disabled American Veterans, Whidbey Island Chapter #47, P.O. Box 296, Oak Harbor, WA, 98277-0296; or the Skagit Land Trust, P.O. Box 1017, Mount Vernon, WA, 98273. You may share thoughts of Les and sign the online guest register at www.lemleychapel.com. Services under the direction Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley.
