John W. Swainston, born April 27,1946 at Wellington, Nevada, was the fourth child of George D. and Dorothy Wright Swainston. He was delivered prematurely, at home, weighing a mere 2 pounds, 3 ounces by Dr. Mary Fulstone. John died from complications due to throat and lung cancer at the Veterans Hospital in Reno on November 24, 2018.

John's father was the District Forest Ranger for the Toiyabe Bridgeport, California District when John was born. The family was living at the Wellington Forest Service ranger station at the time. Six years later the family purchased a 71 acre hay farm on Rivers Road in Smith Valley. The Forest Service soon after transferred John's father to Elko, Nevada, where John started school. He graduated from Elko High School in 1964. He married Margarite (Peggy) Wheat of Elko. He joined the United States Marine Corp in Sept 1966. He was severely wounded in Viet Nam in 1968 and received the Purple Heart. He spent nine months at the Naval Hospital in Oakland, California, much of the time in traction. He was honorably discharged in 1969 with the rank of sergeant.

Following his military service, John attended The Oregon Institute of Technology where he studied electronics. He applied his skills and knowledge at a firm in Hayward, California and at Bentley Industries in Carson Valley. In 1984 he returned to Smith Valley to operate the family farm, which by this time, had grown to about 131 acres with the seamless addition of parcels from neighboring farms. He was still living in the family home at the time of his final illness.

John is survived by a son, Richard Dion Swainston (Cheryl), a brother, Harry W. Swainston (Annette), of Carson City, and a sister Alice Jeanette Wiggins (Calvin) of Reno; two grandchildren, Dion and Devon Swainston; as well as numerous nieces and nephews and their children.

A memorial service for John will be conducted at the Smith Valley United Methodist Church at 44 Rivers Road at 3 p.m. on Saturday, December 1, 2018. In lieu of flowers the family suggests that a contribution be made to a charity of choice.  Family and Friends are invited to sign his online guest book at www.FRFH.net , also sympathy cards may be sent directly to
his son from this site.

Arrangements and cremation are under the direction of Freitas Rupracht Funeral Home, 25 Hwy 208 Yerington, Nevada 89447
(775) 463-2911