Renalder Lloyd Swain
Renalder “Ren” Lloyd Swain, passed away surrounded by his loving family, on May 11, 2022. He was born in Edenton, NC on June 25, 1938, to Robert Edward Swain and Neva Lloyd Swain.
He is survived by his devoted wife of 58 years, Barbara Jean Helmbrecht Swain, his son Barry Lloyd Swain, his daughters Ketra del Carmen Swain, Jordona de Lourdes Swain, and Kaitlyn Mary de Asunta Swain Lewis, as well as grandchildren Shea Hutton Withey and husband Derrick Withey, Carter Jean Swain, Erica Skye Hopkins, Cassidy Drew Hopkins, Nicole Elizabeth Swain, and Ramayana Gaia Espiritu Lewis, and great-grandson Phoenix Valor Hill. Ren was loved by his wife’s entire Helmbrecht family.
He is also survived by special friends Josh Hill, Stacy Rose, Virgil Wyaco, III, Steven Paden, Carly Brown, Dustin Mireles, Richie Houghton, and Kathy and Earl Flummer, as well as his Swansboro High School classmates with whom he spent many wonderful hours in his recent years. He loved and cared for animals, especially feline friend “Bella.”
He was a 1956 graduate of Swansboro High School and was later a Board Member of the Swansboro High School Alumni Association. After graduation, he proudly enlisted and served in the U.S. Navy as an Engineman. He then enlisted in the U.S. Air Force serving as Airfield Management Supervisor at McConnell Air Force Base, Wichita, KS, retiring as a Master Sergeant in 1978. After military retirement he served in the Civil Service as a mechanic on-base at Camp Lejeune, NC, retiring in 2001.
He was a loyal parishioner of Infant of Prague Catholic Church in Jacksonville, NC. As an avid firearm enthusiast, he earned an Expert Pistol Shot medal in the U.S. Air Force. He was also an automotive and motorcycle enthusiast, and enjoyed building dune buggies and motorcycles. “Papa Fix-It” always had an ample supply of batteries on Christmas morning.
The years he resided in Swansboro, NC during his youth were among his happiest and he took great delight in telling (and retelling) the tales of the countless adventures he shared with his many close friends. He loved culture and travel, and enjoyed journeys with his wife to Puerto Rico, Britain, Germany, France, Austria, Spain, Canada, and Alaska.
The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals at CarolinaEast Health System and Duke Medical Center in Durham, NC and who cared for Ren until his passing.
Ren is now in the arms of our Dear Lord. Ren was loved by all, and he will be dearly missed.
His Celebrations of Life to include Visitation on Friday, May 27, 6-7:30 pm at Kahlert Funeral Home, Maysville, NC; Funeral Mass on Saturday, May 28, 11am at Infant of Prague Catholic Church, Jacksonville, NC with dinner reception to follow; and Veterans Interment on Tuesday, May 31,12pm at Coastal Carolina State Veterans Cemetery, Jacksonville, NC at 12pm. Renalder is in the care of Kahlert Funeral Home and Crematory, Maysville, NC.
