Ernest Swint

Ernest G. Swint, 88, of Geneseo, died Thursday, April 4th at his home. A memorial visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 10th from 4 to 7 p.m. at Stackhouse-Moore Funeral Services, 225 E. Park St. Geneseo. Cremation rites have been accorded. He will be honored with a burial at sea at a later date. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Geneseo Endowment for Excellence in Education, P.O. Box 211, Geneseo, IL 61254.

Ernest was born November 9, 1924 in Gibson, Georgia, the son of Robert L. and Rosa (Barksdale) Swint. He was raised and educated in the Augusta, GA area and served in the US Navy during WWII in the South Pacific. He married Dorothy Hett in Augusta, GA and later married June McHenry on December 1, 1955 in Geneseo, IL. Ernest was involved in the Masters Golf Tournament in his early days in broadcasting. He moved to Geneseo in 1955, where he established WGEN Radio and cable TV. He owned and operated Swint Communications and served on the original board of Illini Beef Packers in Joslin. In his later years, he was a certified charter boat captain in Miami, FL. He had a lifelong love of the ocean and deep sea fishing. He was a member of the IBEW- Local 145. He enjoyed building RC model airplanes and golf. He was a pilot and had his first class radio operator license.

Survivors include his children, Judy (Bill) Beauchamp, Evans, GA, Ernest G. (Sharon) Bennett, Augusta, GA, Joan (Tom) Specht, Geneseo, Robert Swint, Geneseo, Linda (Don) Wilson, Leawood, KS, and Jack Swint, Atkinson; eleven grandchildren, Meredith, Lindsey, Christopher, Whitney, Emerson, Donald, Scot, Trevor, Elliott, Ethan, and Evan; three great grandchildren, Emma, Aiden, and Sophie; and brothers and sisters, Barb, Robert, Edward, Shirley, Tommy, Carolyn, and Donna. He was preceded in death by his parents and three siblings.

Condolences may be expressed by visiting Ernest’s obituary at www.stackhousemoore.com