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Memoriam

Info Sheet - Farrell Duane Swindell
Died 25 August 2014 - eulogy comments
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CW2 Cobra Pilot 1972 - Call Sign Centaur 55 - Wife Cathy

From VHPA:

CW4 Farrell "Funnell" D. Swindell was a VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 08/25/2014 at the age of 71.2
Clarksville, TN
Flight Class 71-21
Date of Birth 06/06/1943
Served in the U.S. Army
Call sign in Vietnam CENTAUR 55
This information was provided by Sammie Williams
More detail on this person: Farrell Duane Swindell, 71, of Clarksville, TN, passed away on Monday, August 25, 2014 at Centennial Medical Center in Nashville, TN.

Farrell was born in Richmond, IN to the late Valeta Lenora Swindell. He was raised by his late grandparents, Ira and Charlotte Swindell.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 3, 2014 from 9 a.m.-11 a.m. at Neal-Tarpley-Parchman Funeral Home. Graveside service will be held on Wednesday, September 3, 2014 at 12 p.m. at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery-West in Hopkinsville, KY.

Farrell served 23 years active duty as an AH-1 Cobra helicopter pilot. He served in the Vietnam Conflict and Desert Storm. Among his awards, he received the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with Valor, 24 Air Medals, and two Purple Hearts.

Farrell is survived by his wife of 33 years, Cathy Swindell of Clarksville, TN; three sons, Farrell "Chip" (Brooke) Swindell of Bluffton, IN, Mitchell "Bubba" (Dawn) Swindell of Windsor, MO, and Scott "Sonny" (Stephanie) Swindell of Clarksville, TN; three daughters, Wendi (Brian) Claywell of Richmond, IN, Kim Portzline of Denver, CO, and Amber (Rick Baldwin) Swindell of Mountain View, CA; and twelve grandchildren, Trent Sartain, Ben May, Evelyn Williams, Collin Burns, Charli Swindell, Crew Swindell, Audrey Swindell, Preston Swindell, Corey Swindell, Caleb Swindell, Kai Baldwin, and Raelynn Baldwin.

The Swindell family would like to thank Dr. Rohit Patel and his compassionate staff for the care they gave during Farrell's illness.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.

Arrangements entrusted to Neal-Tarpley-Parchman Funeral Home, 1510 Madison Street, Clarksville, TN 37040. Online condolences may be made at www.neal-tarpley.com

Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eulogy Comments

Bob Yaap CPT Cobra Pilot (F/4 in ’72/'73): Farrell (AKA ‘Funnel’ due to the way he could down a beer) was one of my roommates while we were with F/4 in Tan My in late ’72 and until we stood down in Feb of ’73. Farrell was on his second tour in RVN. He had been a Marine at Khe Sanh in 1968 and had survived the siege there during the TET offensive. He returned home after that tour, was discharged from the Marines and then a short time later went to Warrant Officer school at Ft Rucker.

He was a great roommate but most importantly he was a tremendous Cobra pilot. I flew with him often as his co-pilot and he showed me the ropes of flying in RVN. He was cool as a cucumber and loved by everyone. I was sorry to see he passed away in 2014 and regret that I never talked to him after we were together in RVN. May he rest in peace!