Eugene “Gene” Sword, resident of Owasso, passed away Monday, August 19, 2013 at his home at the age of 85 years. Gene was born April 1, 1928 at Pikeville, Kentucky to Everette and Ocie (Hunt) Sword. His early years were spent in Charleston and Madison, West Virginia, graduating from Scott High School in May of 1947, where he was active in sports and was President of his Senior Class. His first college attendance was at West Virginia University where he attended one semester before entering the U.S. Air Force in 1948. He learned to fly and served in the latter part of World War II, and in the Korean and Vietnam wars. He served with the Air Force for 20 years, retiring with the rank of Senior Master Sergeant. During this time he continued his education at the University of Mississippi, University of Maryland and Blackstone School of Law and eventually ended with an LLB degree. Many years later, graduate work was completed in Police Sciences at Texas A & M University. The Office of Special Investigation (OSI) recruited and trained him in antiterrorist activities, sabotage and espionage. He acted in an advisory capacity for that agency as recent as 1998 and 1999. His duties eventually involved him as the senior agent in charge of the Mobile, Alabama field office, while in addition to serving as training officer in Presidential and Distinguished Visitor Protection Services. Gene later became a private investigator, conducting insurance fraud investigations. On June 27, 1999, Gene and Carolyn Heck Harter were united in marriage in Tulsa.
Gene and Carolyn became founding members of the Anglican Church of Saint Paul in Owasso in 2006 where he served on the vestry and used his skills as a wood craftsman to build the church’s altar and baptismal font.
Gene is survived by his wife Carolyn of the home in Owasso; 3 step children – Linda Conkling and husband Kevin of Broken Arrow, Renee Janzen of Tulsa and Bradley Harter and wife Mary of Owasso. Also surviving are seven step grandchildren and one step great grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents, a former wife Rose Mary and a son Eugene James Sword.
Funeral services will be Friday, August 23, 2013 at 1:00 PM in the chapel of Mowery Funeral Service with Father Chris Waters of the Anglican Church of Saint Paul officiating. Burial will follow at the Floral Haven Memorial Gardens in Broken Arrow with full military honors accorded by the United State Air Force. Arrangements and services have been entrusted to Mowery Funeral Service of Owasso. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations be made to St. John’s Hospice or the Anglican Church of Saint Paul Building Fund. www.moweryfs.com
