Born on Christmas Day, 1929 in Glasgow Scotland, Major Swan's life and officership took him around the world before retiring on the west coast of Canada.
He first left Scotland at the age of 18 to serve in the British Army for two years in Ceylon, now Sri lanka.While travelling Africa, Major Swan received his calling to leave the Presbyterian Church and join the Salvation Army. Following commissioning, Major Swan met the young Lieutenant Jeanne Pastorius and they married in 1957.
Following appointments in Trinidad and the Bahamas, Major Swan settled in Canada and held appointments in Nova Scotia, Ottawa, Victoria, Toronto, New Brunswick and completed their careers in Brandon Manitoba.
They retired to White Rock, British Columbia in 1994.
Major Swan's life and service was strongly influenced by his personal fusion of established church liturgy with the energy and force of the evangical church. These two factors gave Major Swan a gift for a practical application of the sacred in the lives of everyone he touched. He will be especially remembered for hs leading of altar calls and his compassion for those in need.
He is survived by his wife, Jeanne; children Ian & Wendy, Gale and Warren, and David; grandchildren, Jason and Brianna; sister Margaret,; brother Ralph and Irene; and sister-in-law Iva.
Major Swan was promoted to glory from the Salvation Army White Rock Citadel, 15417 Roper Avenue, White Rock, on Thursday September 30 at 2 p.m., with internment to follow in Learnington Ontario. Please, in lieu of flowers, donations to the Canadian Cancer Society.