Cordell Thomas "Tommy" Swann

Cordell Thomas "Tommy" Swann

March 20, 1942 - January 22, 2024

Cordell Thomas "Tommy" Swann

March 20, 1942 - January 22, 2024

Obituary

Cordell Thomas “Tommy” Swann, 81, of Twentynine Palms, CA, passed away on January 22, 2024.

Cordell Thomas Swann (Tommy, as his family liked to call him) was born on March 20th 1942, the third of five children, born to Thomas Cordell Swann and Daisy Bell Massingill in the small town of Hilham Tennessee. The family came to California when Tommy was just five years old, and eventually settled in Huntington Beach, California.

While in high school Tommy was known for his athleticism in basketball, and his team earned numerous championship titles. After graduating from Huntington Beach High School in 1961 he went on to study at Orange Coast College for a year before joining the Air force in 1963. Upon completion of his service, Tommy put his military computer science training to good use, and landed his first job in management for Collins which later became known as Rockwell.

In the summer of 1967, just two days after his return home from service, he met the love of his life, Christine Pearl Herrera, at a local softball game. He had come to watch his two younger brothers, Jon and Wayne, umpire the game Christine happened to be playing in. Following nearly four years of courtship they wed on June 26th 1971. They went on to have two children, Thomas Christian in 1974 and Kerry Anne in 1975. Cordell was fiercely determined to provide for his family and give them the life he felt they deserved. In 1975, the young family purchased their first home, and settled in the town of Garden Grove. They later returned to Huntington Beach in the summer of 1986 with the purchase of their second home. As a result, Thomas Christian and Kerry Anne were able to attend the same schools their parents once had. His children, and Christine were always a great source of pride for him.

Cordell eventually left his job at Rockwell, and began a lifelong career at Toshiba. In the spring of 1995 he became a grandparent with the birth of his first grandchild Brandon. Five more grandchildren would follow. In 2004, Cordell retired from Toshiba, and he and Christine moved to Twenty Nine Palms California. His family meant more to him than anything else in the world, something he often mentioned. He was unendingly proud of his wife and children always tried his best to support them. He did this by making sure he was always available to support his family in extracurricular activities and was known to take long weekends to help support and grow his son’s basketball ambitions and his daughter’s love of figure skating.

Cordell was also passionate about college sports, especially USC football and UCLA basketball, and could often be found glued to the tv set cheering for his teams or talking excitedly on the phone to his son about the latest sports happenings. In addition, Cordell was an avid and dedicated reader. He particularly enjoyed reading science fiction novels and spent a considerable amount of time glued to his books.

Anyone who knew Cordell knew that he was the most loving father and husband a family could ask for.

Cordell was predeceased by his father, Thomas Cordell, mother Daisy Bell, sister Shelba Jean and brother George Wayne. He is survived by his wife of nearly 53 years, Christine Pearl, two children, Thomas Christian and Kerry Anne, six grandchildren: Brandon Michael, Ayden Thomas, Isabella Anne, Jacob Thomas, Kennedy Noelle, and Molly Elizabeth, sister Cornella Dean Kitchell and Jon Lee Swann.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday the twenty-fourth of February 2024 at 10 o’clock in the morning at O’Connor Mortuary, 25301 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Hills, CA 92653.

Celebration of Life reception to be held immediately following memorial services at 12 o’clock noon at Gulliver’s Restaurant, 18482 Mac Arthur Blvd in Irvine CA.

 

Memorial Ceremony

  • Date & Time: February 24, 2024 (10:00 AM)
  • Venue: O'Connor Mortuary
  • Location: 25301 Alicia Parkway Laguna Hills, CA 92653 - (Get Directions)
  • Phone Number: (949) 581-4300

Celebration Of Life

  • Date & Time: February 24, 2024 (12:00 PM)
  • Venue: Gulliver's Restaurant
  • Location: 18482 MacArthur Blvd Irvine, CA 92612 - (Get Directions)
  • Phone Number: (949) 833-8411

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