Merrill R. Swartz

Merrill R. Swartz, Jr., passed away on May 22 in Winter Park, FL. He was the husband of Barbara (Stufflet) Swartz. They were married for 51 years.

Born in Reading, PA the son of the late Merrill R. Swartz, Sr. and Florence (Zielinski) Swartz on June 30, 1939.

A 1957 graduate of Wilson High School, West Lawn, PA, he managed his father's service station at 7th and Franklin for 10 years. During that time he was a volunteer Fireman with the Reading Hose Fire Company. That experience led to a new career path in the insurance industry starting with CNA in Reading. In 1979 CNA brought him to Florida where he eventually became owner of Ford Insurance Agency, Kissimmee, FL from 1986 until present.

His many interests included stamp and coin collecting, traveling to Europe and many US states including Hawaii. In recent years he became "Mr. Lucky" at the casinos in Las Vegas, New Orleans and Tampa.

His greatest pleasure was seeing his children become successful, his grandchildren growing into their teens and young adulthood and becoming a great- grandfather last November.

He is survived by his wife; two sons, Mark and Day , Panama City, FL; Michael and his wife Denise, Alachua, FL and a daughter, Michelle Remschel, Hewitt, NJ.; grandchildren, Casady Massey and her husband Jordan, Eglin AFB, FL; Steven and Laura Swartz, Panama City, FL; Shea and Alicia Remschel, Hewitt, NJ.; and great-granddaughter, Alexis Nicole Massey.

Committal Services will be in Gethsemane Mausoleum on Saturday, June 2 at 9 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in his memory to Children's Home Society, 1485 S. Semoran Blvd, Suite 1402, Winter Park, FL. 32792. Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc., West Reading is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be recorded at www.kuhnfuneralhome.com.