Obituary of Rex D. Swails

Rex D. Swails, 90, longtime Coralville resident, died Friday, October 13, 2017.

A time of visitation will be held 4-6 p.m., Monday, October 16th at the Gay & Ciha Funeral Service in Iowa City.  Graveside services with military honors will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday at Memory Gardens Cemetery.  Memorials in Rex’s name can be made to Eastern Iowa Honor Flight or Meals on Wheels through Elder Services.  Online condolences may be shared with his family at www.gayandciha.com.

Rex DeWayne Swails was born March 2, 1927; son of Mellie and Verlee Swails.  After high school, Rex enlisted in the US Coast Guard, serving an enlistment during WWII from 1945-1947 before returning to Iowa.  On July 29, 1947 he married Marilyn J. Carter at the First United Methodist Church in Iowa City and shortly after they moved to Coralville.  Rex was proud of his service in the Coast Guard and also took pride in his long career with Proctor & Gamble as a mechanic.

His family includes his children, Dennis Swails and his wife, Clara of Solon and Jennifer Swails (John Wenger) of Nashville, TN; grandchildren, Tracy Swails (Cindy Green), Shawn Swails, and BryndonWenger; great-grandchildren, Robert, Andrew and Benjamin Swails and a brother, Arnold “Boo” Swails and his wife, Rosie of Coralville.

Rex was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Marilyn and son, Loren.