James Ronald Swafford, 90, of Pittsburg, Kansas, passed away on June 4, 2025, at Girard, Kansas.
James (Jim) was born on Dec. 10, 1934, to Harold Swafford and Dorothy (Stefan) Swafford in Canton, Ohio.
Jim was a Navy medic from 1956 to 1960. Following an honorable discharge from the Navy, he worked at Motorola and ultimately joined the Microbiology faculty at Arizona State University, Jim also served as the Director of the Electron Microscopy Laboratory at ASU and taught both scanning and electron microscopy.
He and his former wife, Carol Swafford-Reynold of Prescott, AZ had 3 children. Jim married Virginia Rider in 1988. He and Virginia moved to Boston where Jim used his scientific expertise at Harvard Medical School and Brandeis University. A move to Kansas City in 1994, allowed Jim to bring his skills to UMKC School of Dentistry. He fully retired in 2000 to accompany Virginia to Pittsburg, KS. Jim never lost his love of Arizona but claimed Pittsburg as his home. Jim was intrigued by science. He was an avid reader, and enjoyed meeting his friends at the Daylight Donut on Thursday mornings.
He is survived and will be missed by his spouse Virginia Rider (Swafford) of Pittsburg, KS; three children, James G. Swafford of Scottsdale, AZ, Cathleen Rhodes of Scottsdale, AZ, and David Swafford of Seattle, WA; a grandson, Ryder Swafford of Seattle, WA; and two siblings, Patrick Swafford of Phoenix, AZ and Suzanne Ecke of Cottonwood, AZ.
Memorial services will be held 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 30, at the Fort Scott National Cemetery. Friends are requested to meet at the cemetery. A Celebration of Jim’s life will follow at Crestwood Country Club from 4-7 pm Wednesday, July 30th. Memorial donations can be made to St. Joseph Indian School in Chamberlin, SD or Girard Medical Center in Girard, KS. Arrangements are under the direction of the Brenner Mortuary, 114 E. 4th St., Pittsburg, KS.
