THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 11, 1996 TAG: 9609110433
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: 53 lines
Earl Thomas Swink, 89, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 10, 1996, at Montgomery Regional Hospital.
He was born in Churchville, Va. on Sept. 7, 1907. He was preceded in death by his parents, Wallace Martin and Lucy May Burton Swink and by his son, Earl Thomas Swink Jr. Surviving members of his family are his wife, Louise; a son, Richard M. Swink and his wife, Nancy, of King George, Va.; and three children, Susan, Richard Jr. and Michael.
Mr. Swink received a B.S. Degree in Agricultural Engineering at Virginia Tech in 1930. The following year he completed a graduate training program in rural electrification with Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Co. During the period 1932-35, he served as district agricultural engineer with Virginia Electric and Power Co. at Suffolk. He joined the faculty of the Agricultural Engineering Department at Virginia Tech in 1935 and served the university in various capacities until his retirement in 1970. He provided outstanding leadership as head of the Agricultural Engineering Department from 1954-1967. Mr. Swink served in many leadership positions in his professional society - the American Society of Agricultural Engineers. These included memberships on the national board of directors and as vice president of the society. He was also active in the American Society for Engineering Education, a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and a registered professional engineer in Virginia. Throughout his professional career, Mr. Swink received numerous honors and awards. He was a member of honor societies Tau Beta Phi, Epsilon Sigma Phi, Omicron Delta Kappa and Alphi Epsilon. In 1971, he was presented ``The Unsung Virginian'' award by the Virginia Association of Electric Cooperatives. The citation recognized him as a pioneer in rural electrification, co-founder of the Virginia Farm and Home Electrification Council, head, Agricultural Engineering Department at Virginia Tech, and for his untiring efforts to improve the welfare of rural people through the extension of electric service to all areas of Virginia.
Mr. Swink also made significant contributions to various civic and religious organizations. Most notable was his services relating to mental health and mental retardation. He was a member of the New River Valley Mental Health and Mental Retardation Community Services Board for four terms and served as president for two terms. He also served a four-year term on the Advisory Council on Mental Retardation, State Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation. He had been active in the Blacksburg Presbyterian Church including service as an elder. He was also an active and influential member of the Christiansburg-Blacksburg Rotary Club for more than 50 years.
Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday in Blacksburg Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Kathy Carpenter officiating. A graveside service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Friday in Union Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Churchville. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in memory of Earl Thomas Swink Sr. to the Virginia Tech Foundation, 201 Pack Building (0336), Blacksburg, Va. 24061. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday in McCoy Funeral Home, Blacksburg.
KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY by CNB