Richard Wayne "Dick" Swaim

Richard Wayne ("Dick") Swaim, of Anderson Township, left to be with the Lord on July 6, 2024.

A native of Thomasville, North Carolina, Dick was preceded in death by his parents Lucille Allen Swaim and Charles Ray Swaim, and his brother, Charles Edward Swaim. He is survived by Treva Jane Swaim ("Janie"), his devoted wife of 54 years. He is also survived by his brothers, Steven Allen Swaim (and wife Debbie) and Mark Anthony Swaim (and wife Susan), as well as many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

Dick graduated from Thomasville High School in Thomasville, North Carolina and the U.S. Navy Photographers "A" School in Pensacola, Florida. He proudly served in the United States Navy, Naval Reconnaissance and Technical Support Center in Suitland, Maryland for four years and then the Naval Reserves for two years.

Photography served as Dick's passion and profession. He was a newspaper photographer for The High Point Enterprise (High Point, North Carolina) for five years and The Cincinnati Enquirer for 32 years. He was an excellent photographer who loved the many challenges that came with his line of work.

Dick was an awesomely multi-talented person. In addition to being a top-notch photographer, he was a music enthusiast, lover of sporty cars, pianist and a member of the Cincinnati Keyboard Club and a painter. He was a long-time ham radio operator. His call sign, WB8VTT, once served as his license-plate number.

He was fascinated by astronomy and had a great love of trains. He particularly enjoyed going on "train watching" trips with his Cincinnati Railroad Club buddies. He adored nature and saw everything as beautiful or picture-worthy. He fed his backyard birds very well (in spite of his fight with the squirrels) and loved sitting on the deck watching them. He loved people and animals. He loved going to the Cincinnati Zoo and kept his camera clicking as he visited all the animals (which he said he believed were actually posing for him at times because they knew him so well).

Dick saw things through his camera lens that we often do not see. He captured these things and brought them to life in pictures for us all to see and enjoy in the daily newspaper.

On top of all his talents, Dick was an amazing, loving husband to his wife, Jane, for their 54 years of marriage. He was a good brother to Mark, Steve and Ed and a wonderful son to Ray and Lucille. He enjoyed spending time with his nieces and nephews on trips to North Carolina.

Although the last phase of his life was medically challenging, he lived a full, interesting, creative and awesome life. He had a strong faith and was a member of Anderson Hills Church.

Those who knew him described him as kind, passionate, talented, creative, a dedicated friend and "all in" when he took on a new endeavor, hobby or job. His smile, kindness, generosity and humor will be missed but will live in the hearts of all those who knew him. The "Dick and Jane, Your Storybook Friends" story was a great one and it will live on in our hearts forever.

Visitation will be held Monday, July 15 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Anderson Hills Church, 7515 Forest Road, Cincinnati, Ohio (Anderson Township) with funeral services following from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the sanctuary. Burial will occur in North Carolina, at a later date. T.P. WHITE & SONS Funeral Home serving the family.

The service will be live streamed by using this link: https://andersonhills.online.church/.

Memorial donations can be made to either The Alzheimer's Association, 225 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 1700, Chicago, Illinois, 60601 or at alz.org

OR

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, 3400 Vine Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45220 or through the following link: https://cincinnatizoo.org/tribute-gift/