Robert E. Swab
CHRONOLOGY
From the Harrisburg Evening News, 3 February 1943:
[Son of Col. Robert E. Swab] Lykens Youth Appointed to West Point Academy
ROBERT KNILEY SWAB
The appointment of Robert Kniley Swab, Lykens, to West Point Academy was announced at the local office of Congressman John C. Kunkel today. Swab is the principal appointee, and the names of the alternates will be announced soon.
Swab, the son of Col. and Mrs. Robert E. Swab, Lykens, is attending the Millard School in Washington. He was graduated last year from the Greenbriar Military Academy at Lewisburg, West Virginia, and received his public school education at Akron, Ohio, and Indianapolis, Indiana.
His mother now resides at Lykens, and his father is with the 3rd Army at Camp Carson, Colorado.
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From a local newspaper [probably Elizabethville Echo] at the time of his death, 1943:
Funeral Here Today for Col. Robert Swab
Colonel Robert E. Swab, age 52 years, died at Camp Carson, Colorado, Sunday night, following a heart attack.
Colonel Swab was a son of the late Edwin Swab and Mary Alice [Stroup] Swab, and was a native of Lykens. His parents at one time resided in Elizabethville, and his mother was a native of this community.
He was graduated from the Lykens High School, 1908, and later was employed as a surveyor by the Susquehanna Collieries Company.
Following America’s entrance in World War I, Col. Swab attended Training School at Fort Niagara, New York, where he was commissioned a second lieutenant. Later he serve at Camp Meade, where he advanced to the rank of Captain. He also served with the Army of Occupation in Europe.
Following the war he entered civilian life for one year, during which time he resided in Shamokin. Returning to the army, he served at a number of posts in the United States, and a three-year assignment at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. Following this he was assigned for six years as an instructor of the reserve Officers Training Corps, at Akron University, Ohio, and spent four years as an instructor in military tactics at the Greenbriar Military Academy, Lewisburg, West Virginia. He had served as commanding officer at Camp Carson since August 1942, where he was advanced to Colonel.
Survivors are his wife, formerly Miss Florence Kniley, of Lykens; one son, Roberty K. Swab, who entered the West Point, New York, Military Academy, 1 July; one sister, Beulah [Swab] Updegrave, Mrs. Fred Updegrave of Philadelphia; and two brothers, Mahlon Swab, of Shamokin, and Harvey Swab, of Harrisburg.
Funeral services will be held from the home of Mrs. Swab’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred G. Kniley, North Second Street, Lykens, at 2:00 o’clock this Thursday afternoon.
Rev. Frank Carpenter, pastor of the Lykens Methodist Church, will assist in the service, in which full military honors will be accorded. The military rites will be conducted by a detail of army officers and men, and a chaplain, assigned from the Indiantown Gap Military Reservation.
Interment will be in Maple Grove Cemetery, Elizabethville.
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 23 August 1943:
COL. ROBERT E. SWAB
Funeral services for Col. Robert E. Swab, who died suddenly Sunday of a heart attack at Camp Carlson, Colorado, will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kniley, North Second Street, Lykens, instead of today, as originally announced. Burial will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery, Elizabethville.
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 8 October 1943:
Robert E. Swab, Lykens, left a $1000 estate to his widow and son, Robert K. Swab, Lykens. The widow, Mrs. Florence K. Swab, applied for letters.
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From the Harrisburg Evening News, 22 June 1944:
Miss Mary Louise Stine, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph R. Stine, 125 Manor Street, will entertain at her home this evening in honor of her cousin, Cadet Robert K. Swab, of West Point, a son of Mrs. Robert E. Swab, of Lykens, and the late Colonel Swab, and his mother are visiting at the Stine home. Mrs. Stine and Mrs. Swab are sisters.
Tomorrow, the Stines will open their summer home in Goldsboro and will be accompanied there by Mrs. Swab and Cadet Swab.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.
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See also:
Col. Robert E. Swab is buried at Maple Grove Cemetery, Elizabethville, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. He was born 18 November 1890 in Lykens, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, and died on 22 August 1943 in Colorado. His widow, Florence [Kniley] Swab was born in 1889 and died in 1972. She is buried with her husband at Maple Grove Cemetery. See: Findagrave #75069802.
World War II – Lykens and Wiconisco Homeoming Celebration, 1946