Edward Preston Swecker

Of Alexandria, Virginia passed away on September 4, 2021. He was born to John Preston Swecker and Emma Virginia Wilkins on February 7, 1931, in Washington, DC. He graduated from Sidwell Friends School in 1949 and received a BA in English Literature from Duke University in 1953. He spent his junior year as an exchange student in Marburg, Germany. In 1954, he was drafted into the Army and served in Augsburg, Germany for 18 months. After discharge, he attended the University of Chicago Graduate School, receiving an MA in German in 1958. He joined the Central Intelligence Agency and served for 30 years, including tours in Berlin, Frankfurt, Bonn, and Saigon.

In 1995 Ed and his wife Barbara bought a home in Lewes, DE where they spent summers and weekends enjoying biking and hiking in Cape Henlopen Park. After retiring he enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, traveling, and eating in gourmet restaurants. He continued to read in German and French, and sometimes English. Ed volunteered at the US Holocaust Museum for four years, translating German documents about citizen's experiences during WWII.

Ed is survived by his beloved wife of 48 years, Barbara Henry Swecker of Alexandria, VA, his children, David (Kinta), of Portland, OR; Ronald (Diane) of Oak Hill, VA; and Susan Heath (Derrick), of Fairfax City; 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his brother, Robert.

Family gathering to remember ED will be held at a later date.

Please remember Ed with a contribution to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 801 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105

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