Windal Swanson, age 94, of Murphy, passed away Sunday, June 21, 2015 at a Murphy care facility. He was a native and lifetime resident of Cherokee County. He served in the US Army during World War II. He served in the Battle of the Bulge and in the Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe Campaigns. He was awarded the WWII Victory and Army of Occupation Medals. He was a member of Pleasant Valley Baptist Church.

He was the son of the late William Cleveland and Josie Elrod Swanson. Windal was the husband of the late Juanita Patterson Swanson, who died August 22, 2001.  He was also preceded in death by his step-mother, Martha Jane Ryder Swanson; two sisters, Ruth Fowler and Dorothy Summit; and two brothers, Harvey and Bill Swanson.

Surviving are a daughter, Susie Farmer and husband, Gene of Murphy; two sons, Roger Swanson and wife, Pat of Murphy, and Mitchell Swanson and wife, Debbie of Morganton, North Carolina; four sisters, Jane Tanner of Murphy, Ellavee Belue of Spartanburg, South Carolina, Emma Tanner of Murphy, and Susie Clark of Robbinsville; three brothers, Kenneth Swanson and Willis Swanson both of Murphy, and Verlin Swanson of Spartanburg, South Carolina; eight grandchildren, Tiffany Clapsaddle, Autumn Jenkins, Cheree Wells, Letisha Hallgren Arseniu, Jeff Swanson, Missy Arney, Lindsay Swanson, and Brinita Hallgren; and fifteen great grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 24, 2015 at the Chapel of Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy with the Rev. Keith Nuckolls officiating. The entombment was in Moss Cemetery, Marble with military graveside rites conducted by Murphy American Legion Post 96, VFW Post 10222, Hayesville VFW Post 6812 (Allison-Bristol), American Legion Post 532, and US Army Military Honors. Pallbearers were Jeff Swanson, Justin Allen, Tiffany Clapsaddle, Autumn Jenkins, Cheree Wells, Letisha Hallgren Arseniu, Brinita Hallgren, Bryce Clapsaddle, Lindsay Swanson, and Missy Arney.

The family received friends from 11:00 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Wednesday at the Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Cherokee County Senior Citizen Building, 69 Alpine Street, Murphy, NC 28906 or Downings Creek Baptist Church, c/o Jimmy Moore, PO Box 295, Hayesville, NC  28904.

Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy in charge of all arrangements.