Willis (Will) Swihart
November 27, 1969 – February 5, 2025
With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Willis “Will” Swihart, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, teacher, and friend. Will’s journey on this earth began on November 27, 1969, and on February 5, 2025, his soul found its eternal home in heaven.
His love and legacy live on through his wife of 32 years, Jennifer Lynn Swihart, and their three cherished children: Drew Swihart (Meg), Jake Swihart, and Kara Williams (Doug). Will was a proud and devoted “G” to his two beloved grandchildren, Sadie and Louie Swihart, who brought him immense joy. He was the loving son of Cathy and Will Swihart of Connellsville, Pennsylvania, and a dear brother to Dawn Miller and Lisa Swihart.
Will was a man of unwavering love, kindness, and dedication. A lifelong educator, he spent his career shaping young minds as a 6th-grade science teacher, where he not only imparted knowledge but also instilled confidence and a sense of belonging in each of his students. Teaching wasn’t just his profession, it was his passion and purpose. Will had a special way of making every student feel seen, valued, and loved. His infectious humor, quick wit, and warm spirit made his classroom a place of laughter and learning. Whether he was cracking jokes, sharing stories, or offering words of encouragement, Will left an indelible mark on the lives of countless students and families. His impact will be felt for generations to come.
Beyond the classroom, Will found joy in traveling across the country to cheer on his children from the sidelines of football stadiums and supporting them on the basketball court closer to home. He cherished every moment spent with his grandchildren, creating memories filled with love and laughter. Whether engaging in a heartfelt conversation or simply sharing a quiet moment with loved ones, Will embraced life with gratitude, warmth, and an unwavering love for those around him.
His light will continue to shine in the hearts of those who knew and loved him. He will be deeply missed but never forgotten.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, February 14, 2025 at 1:00 p.m.
Saint John United Church of Christ
332 Old Sulphur Spring Road
Manchester, Missouri 63021
Visitation will be held at the church from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
In lieu of gifts, donations may be made to the Swihart Family Fund in honor of Will’s enduring legacy.
Venmo Donation
Swihart Family Fund
@SwihartFamilyFund
Grateful for the impact Will had on our son Brady during his days at West Middle. He was a compassionate and caring teacher that truly made a difference! Prayers for you all!
The Sweet Femily
I’m so sorry for the grief you all are enduring right now with having to say goodbye far too soon. Jenny and family- I will be praying for God to move in close and catch your tears as you go through this difficult season. Your EC family is here when you are ready. Sending love and and prayers.
There’s a hole in our hearts and our neighborhood now, one that can never be filled. And though many tears have been and will be shed for Will, we’ll do our best to remember the good times: our random chats in the yard, the weekly car washes and awesome tunes, and the smell of the his grill on so many summer nights. But most of all, we’ll miss his kind soul. Our hearts are with each of you and we pray his soul is happy and at peace.
Hi. This is one of your students. I’m really sad that you’ve passed away and it would be so much fun in science class. Everyone was crying and sad for you. Including the teachers. Just remember everyone has cared for you.
Jenny and Family,
My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. Hold the memories of Will close to your heart and find strength with your family and friends.
I have so many amazing memories from working with Will in sixth grade. Every Friday, he would DJ the hallways, blasting 80s rock. We would laugh about the silliness of the middle schoolers and embarrass ourselves with dance moves. His goofy mood was contagious and made teaching middle school so fun.
Will taught me to embrace the chaos, and accept our students for exactly who they are. I am so grateful for the memories we shared.
I am eternally grateful for Will and the love and compassion he showed our son during a difficult transition to middle school. He quickly became our son’s favorite teacher. There are some teachers kids will never forget and Will is one of them. Thank you Mr. Swihart for being exactly who you are and showing our kiddos how wonderful teachers can be. West Middle will not be the same without you.
Dear Swihart Family,
I am so incredibly sorry for your loss. Mr. Swihart was an amazing teacher who left a lasting impact on so many students, including our daughter, Elin. She will always remember the kindness, encouragement, and joy he brought to her 6th grade year—especially how he made her feel special by calling even days “Elin days.” His warmth and humor made the classroom a place of learning and laughter, and we are so grateful for the time she had with him.
Please know that our family is holding you in our hearts during this difficult time. His legacy will live on in the many lives he touched.
With deepest sympathy,
The Hardesty Family
I’m so great for Mr. Swihart I loved watching him play Mr. Beast after every class we had so many memories from day one one memory I loved was he would always make someone embarrassed in a funny way thanks for all you have done Mr. Swihart.🥹
Mr Swihart always had a smile on his face even when he was struggling.He always said he will teach till the day he dies and I guess he fulfilled that promise.6th grade won’t be the same without him.We will miss him.
Dear Swihart family,
Our memories go back many many years to Morgantown, WV when we lived in the same neighborhood with Cathy and Will. “Willy” as we knew him was a sweet child full of life. It is with great pleasure that we read this memorials and know that he continued to take that personality into adulthood. May your family know that Will is safe with Jesus and you will see him again someday. Blessings to our dear friends Cathy and Will. We love you, Janet and George
Mr. Swihart would always be cheerful and would never punish someone for what they had done. He would hold back lunch detentions and give people 100 chances. Mr. Swihart was the type of person to play rap music during a test or when he sees someone on games he asks questions about what game you’re playing. He wasn’t ever really mean to me or anyone else that had him. I hope that he is in a better place now and would have wanted us to thrive on and never back down never give up. Thank you, Mr. Swihart!
The only time I met Mr. Swihart was last year when I forgot to schedule the parent-teacher conference. I showed up, hoping to find an open slot, but as expected, there were none. Noticing me standing there awkwardly, Mr. Swihart, having finished a conversation early with another family, kindly offered to help. His advice reassured me, and he even offered to meet with me early one morning on a regular school day. Though I only met him once, it was clear he had a big heart and a genuine willingness to help others.
I’m so sorry for your loss. Yes, his light will continue to shine in this world and he won’t be forgotten.
Our son Sam was a student in Mr. Swihart’s 6th grade science class. We will never forget the kindness, patience, and genuine concern he showed for our child that year. Sam adored Mr. Swihart and talked about him often. We so appreciated the extra care he provided. It was clear to us that his profession was rooted deeply in a mission to be a safe space for all the kids who showed up in his room.
We pray for healing and comfort for Mr. Swihart’s family during this very difficult time. Sending love to you all, and gratitude for a life well-lived and the way that he briefly touched ours.
Mr. Swihart was a caring and wonderful teacher to our daughter Leela. She spoke of his often and loved his class. He will be missed.
I am so, so sorry for your loss. Will(ie) was so full of life and I feel like I got punched in the gut when I heard. We met in high school and went on to college at ISU. He was a loyal fraternity brother and a great friend to all. My sincere prayers and sympathies for the Swihart family.
I had Mr. Swihart’s science class in 6th grade, and even now that I’m in my final year of high school, he still remains as one of my favorite teachers I’ve ever had. My favorite memory from his class was when we would all sing the cringey water cycle song together. We all knew it was cringey, but it was still fun. It seemed like everyone in the school loved Mr. Swihart.
Mr Swihart brought such joy to my daughter, Sienna, during her first year of middle school. He received “her favorite” teacher award. Grateful for his love for his students, Sienna will cherish her first year of middle school and her memories with Mr Swihart. Prayers that you find comfort and peace in your memories and the love you shared. Deepest Sympathy.
I had Mr. Swihart in the sixth grade, I’m in college now. I was so saddened hearing the news. Mr. Swihart was very kind and funny and everyone loved him. He was a great teacher and my thoughts are with his family. He will be missed by so many.