Ralph Wayne Swallow was born September 22, 1947 in Kelso, Washington. He passed away Saturday, October 12, 2019 at the age of 72. He has been a resident of Draper, Utah for the past 23 years and prior to that lived in Sandy, Utah. He passed away at Sunrise of Sandy Assisted Living, with his children by his side, due to dementia and complications from a fall in July of this year.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph Wallace Swallow and Thelma Stevens Swallow; his son, Scott Wayne Swallow; brothers, George Edward Swallow & Ronald Eugene Swallow; and his sister, Patricia Ann Swallow.
He is survived by his wife, Vel Swallow; son, Jeffrey Lee Swallow (wife Anna Swallow) of Draper, UT; and daughter, Melanie Kay Swallow (husband Jason Berg) of Portland Oregon; granddaughters, Ruby Jane Swallow & Ellie Claire Swallow; sister, Elaine Marie Prindle of Castle Rock, Washington.
Wayne attended schools in Kelso Washington, Lower Columbia college in Longview Washington, Ricks College in Rexburg Idaho, and graduated with a bachelors degree in microbiology from Brigham Young University in Provo Utah.
Wayne is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He served a 2-year mission in Argentina and has served in Sunday School, Elders Quorum, Young Mens, and Primary.
Wayne served in the Army for three years during the Vietnam War. He spent bootcamp in South Carolina, and specialty training as an optician in Colorado. He was stationed in Okinawa for 1-1/2 years and finished his Army service while at Ft. Hood, Texas as a Specialist 5th Class.
Wayne's entire career was spent working in the medical device industry, and he retired from BD Medical. He traveled extensively to teach and audit sterilization processes. He was fluent in Spanish and used this ability often as he traveled out of the country.
Wayne loved BYU football and was a great fan of all BYU sports. He was a proud member of the Cougar Club. He was always joyful when sitting in his seat in LaVell Edwards stadium on game day. He was blessed with the gift of good humor, loved to laugh, and enjoyed sharing jokes and laughter with others. He is loved and will be missed.
Wayne's funeral will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, October 19, in the chapel at 11777 S. Willow Wood Drive, Draper, Utah. Viewings will be held Friday evening from 6-8 pm at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 East Dimple Dell Road (10600 South) in Sandy and from 9:30-10:30 am prior to the services at the church
