William W. Swanson, Alpha-Delta class of 1960, Of Silver Spring, MD, passed peacefully with his “bride” of 46 years, Beth, holding his hand on Saturday, June 2, 2018 at George Washington University Hospital while awaiting surgery for a recently diagnosed brain tumor. Born in Chicago, Illinois in 1935 to the late Clyde W. and Ruth E. Swanson, Bill served in the US Army from 1954 to 1956 with his last duty station being Germany.
Upon discharge, he attended and graduated from Penn State as a Kappa Sigma member with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering. He then worked for The Boeing Company, starting in Seattle, then with the Minuteman Missile program throughout the Midwest, launched Atlas ICBM missiles from Vandenburg AF Base CA, ending his Boeing career in Washington, DC as liaison with NASA on the Apollo Space program, being an integral participant in Apollo 11, 12 and 13. Deciding to stay in DC, Bill went in a totally opposite direction, and managed/co-owned Tippy’s Taco House and the infamous Lord Telford’s Pub in DC. It was there that he met his future wife Beth, who joined him in the business. Subsequently, they worked in mortgage banking, Bill compiled and co-published a reference book of pension funds, and then joined Beth at Acme Printing Company. It was there that he discovered his love of the printed word and spent almost 40 years perfecting his craft.
He was passionate about aircraft, World War II history (having lived through it as a child), and his beloved Chicago Cubs. Bill and Beth were fortunate enough to travel the US extensively, enjoying and marveling at this beautiful country with Bill being able to show her so many of the places he had worked in. As his sister-in-law said “Bill never met a stranger” coming away with a new friend from every encounter. He was loved by many, tolerated by some, and is dearly missed. Bill left behind his “bride”, his brother-in-law, Michael Leimbach (Mary), his sisters-in-law, Linda Leimbach-Glass (Curtis) and Annamarie Crowley (Michael), his son, Christopher, seven nephews, three nieces, and many, many dear friends old and new. A Celebration of Bill’s Life was held June 15, with interment of his ashes at a future date. Please contact family for details. If desired, we ask that you consider memorial donations to Beth’s Komen DC Race for the Cure team “Beth’s Original Bosom Buddies” or the Wounded Warrior Project.
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