Swisher, Kenneth E. "Skip"

Kenneth E. “Skip” Swisher, 65, of Rome, passed away on Tuesday, July 30, 2013 in the Rome Memorial Hospital with his loving wife and children by his side. He was born on May 17, 1948 in Springfield, MA the son of Jacob and Alice Worden Swisher. He was fortunate to have a second mother, Judith Swisher and her friend Bob. On August 13, 1976 in Forestport NY he married Bonnie Morey, a blessed marriage of 37 years. He graduated from Cohocton High School and MVCC with honors. He proudly served as a Sergeant with the US Air Force during the Vietnam War as an aircraft mechanic. Skip was a car salesman, a job that he loved and excelled at, with many dealerships and had his own car dealership, Sunrise Auto Sales for 20 years until his retirement. He was a member of the Whitesboro American Legion, 40 et 8, Whitestown VFW, the Fort Stanwix #2 DAV and the Floyd United Methodist Church. He loved to redo antique cars and restored a 1957 Ford Ranchero and also was an avid reader. He was a licensed pilot and enjoyed taking trips with his airplane especially his adventures with his friend Bob Pritchard. Skip loved to travel. He and Bonnie made many wonderful memories traveling around the world. His favorite trip was to Africa on a Safari with his daughter Amy. His favorite quote was “the world is a book and if you don’t travel, you have only read one page”. Skip was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. He always provided for his family and they never wanted for anything. Skip is survived by his beloved family, his mother Judith, wife Bonnie, a daughter Amy (John), sons Wade (Kami) and Lance (Ginny), cherished grandchildren, Wadie and Katy, Nick and Nate and Grayce, sisters, Judy (Ralph) Becky (Wayne), brother Doug (Allison), a sister-in-law Connie, several “favorite” aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins and among his many friends his car buddies Joe Palumbo, Rod Castelletti, Harold Christenson and Guy Pirillo. He was predeceased by two brothers, Randy and Robin, a sister, Susan and a dear friend Max Taraska. The family would like to extend their special thank you to the 5th floor nursing staff of St. Luke’s Hospital, Floyd Fire Dept., Am Care Ambulance, doctors and nurses of ER and ICU of Rome Memorial Hospital and to Dr. Ira Tisch. Funeral services will be held on Friday morning at 11:00 at the Bottini Funeral Home, 120 W. Embargo St. with Pastor Laurie Percival Pauley of Floyd United Methodist Church officiating. Interment will be in the Floyd Cemetery, Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. Contributions, in lieu of flowers, in Skip’s memory, may be made to the Floyd United Methodist Church or the Ziyara Shrine, 251 Genesee St. Utica, NY 13501.

“The measure of a man’s wealth is not in materialistic things but in his friends”. Skip was a very wealthy man and the world was a richer place for the people/friends that he made.