V. Wayne Swartwood, 95, of Lusby, died on March 21 at Charlotte Hall Veterans Home, of natural causes.

Wayne was born November 12, 1912 in Bentley Creek, PA to the Ralph Herman and Eleanor Vernier Swartwood. He graduated to Pennsylvania State University with a bachelor's degree in agriculture.

He joined the United States Navy on February 4, 1944 and served until 1946 as a Quartermaster Second Class. He served aboard the destroyer escort USS Stockdale (DE-399) which made numerous convoy escort trips across the Atlantic Ocean and later served in the Pacific theatre as a carrier escort.

He married June Lenker and they raised two children, Ralph and Cynthia. After a long career with the General Adjustment Bureau, an insurance claims firm, he established his own business, Air D. Control in Washington DC, which specialized in the restoration of fire, water and accident damage to homes. Wayne and June moved to Lusby, MD in 1981 to be closer to the water and enjoy retirement. They soon became active in their new home and Wayne joined the American Legion Post 274 in Lusby and served as the Chaplain. They also joined Olivet United Methodist Church.

Wayne is preceded in death by his parents and his sister Martha B. Collins.

He is survived by his son Ralph I. Swartwood and his wife Virginia of Alexandria, VA; and his daughter Cynthia M. Harmon and her husband Craig T. of Frederick, MD.

A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, March 27 at 12 Noon at Olivet United Methodist Church, 13570 Olivet Road, Lusby, MD 20657. The Reverend Sue Schorb-Sterling presided.

Interment will take place at Maryland Veterans Cemetery, Cheltenham at a later date.

Memorial Contributions may be made to St. Mary's Hospice, PO Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650 or to Charlotte Hall Veterans Home, 29449 Charlotte Hall Road, Charlotte Hall, MD 20622.

Arrangements by Rausch Funeral Home, Lusby, MD.