Swanson
Swanson Swanson Dodd, Jr.
d. August 5, 2018
Born on December 24, 1932 in Mistletoe Villa, he was the son of the late Claude Swanson Dodd, Sr. and Rebekah Young Dodd Cooper.He graduated from Henderson High School in 1951 and from Duke University in 1955 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration.At Duke, Swanson was a member of the Air Force ROTC, Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity, and the Duke University Marching Band.Upon graduation, he received a commission in the US Air Force as a Second Lieutenant.On June 27, 1955, two weeks after graduation, Swanson married his best friend and high school sweetheart, Agnes Vann McLemore.Between 1956 and 1981, they moved frequently around the United States as Swanson served in the United States Air Force.During his tours, he served in the Vietnam War where he piloted KC-97 and KC-135A inflight refueling (tanker) aircraft in the Strategic Air Command. He also served a one-year tour in Vietnam piloting C7 cargo aircraft. Swanson was an instructor pilot, an evaluator pilot and a test pilot. He received many awards and commendations including the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal and five Air Medals. After flying 20 years and accumulating over 4800 hours of flying time, Swanson spent his remaining seven years of service working in Manpower and Organization Management senior staff positions at Tactical Air Command (TAC) Headquarters and at the Air Force Manpower and Personnel Center. He retired with the rank of Colonel.
Following his military retirement in 1981, the family returned to Henderson, NC where Swanson was employed by Maria Parham Medical Center. There he served as Interim Administrator, Senior Vice-President, Chief Operating Officer and Director of Risk Management. After retiring from Maria Parham Medical Center, he served for five years as the Chairman of the Hospitals Board of Directors during the planning phase for the tower addition. In 2001, he was awarded the Trustee Service Award by the North Carolina Hospital Association.
Swanson maintained many interests outside of his careers. He was a member of First United Methodist Church where he served on the Church Council as Church Treasurer. He also served as Chair of the Finance Committee, and he served on the Endowment Committee and the Board of Trustees. He taught Sunday school for over thirty years. Swanson was a member and former commander of American Legion Post 60, a former member and president of the Henderson Rotary Club, and a former member of the Rotary District Council. He was a Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International.
In addition to his parents, Swanson was preceded in death by his oldest son, Claude Swanson Dodd, III. He is survived by his beloved wife of 63 years, Agnes McLemore Dodd; his son Richard Young Dodd and wife Emma Schrum Dodd of Charlotte; his daughter Rebekah Dodd Arrington and husband Mark Allen Arrington of Chapel Hill; seven granddaughters, Meredith Dodd Hillyer and husband Charles Philip, Ashley Dodd Ireland and husband Brett Robert, Carrie Jeannette Dodd, Mary Agnes Dodd, Claudia Carruth Dodd, Rebekah Schrum Dodd, and Rachel-Grace Arrington; four great-grandchildren, James Claude Hillyer, Carolina Barbara Hillyer, Chip Robert Ireland, and Jackson Meredith Ireland; brothers, William Frances Gill Dodd and wife Joy and David Young Dodd and wife Sue; his daughter-in-law, Jeanette Meredith Dodd; as well as many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 2 pm at First United Methodist Church by the Rev. Bobby Fletcher and the Rev. Chuck Cook.Burial will follow in Elmwood
Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at his home
Serving as pallbearers will be Brett Robert Ireland, Charles Philip Hillyer, Thomas John Newton, Anthony Wa
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