James E. Swihart Jr.
James (Jim) Swihart, born January 1st 1947, to James Swihart Sr and Emma Bjorn, passed away peacefully at home on April 8th 2024, holding the hand of the love of his life, Lena (Lenny) W. Swihart.
Jim was born in Concord CA and was raised primarily in Santa Barbara CA. Jim’s loves included was his wife of 54 years Lena (Lenny) W. Swihart, his LDS church, his 5 children and 9 grandchildren.
Jim and Lenny were married in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple in 1970. Shortly after being married, Jim and Lenny moved to Santa Barbara to co-own and run Swihart Mastercraft Plumbing, and to have a family of their own. Jim changed career paths in the early 80s from Plumbing to Computers. To accomplish this, he put himself through college and graduated from SBCC with an AA in Computer Science (all while having a wife and 5 kids at home).
Jim was a man of service, serving in multiple rolls within his church ward. This included a Church Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Manchester, England. His favorite calling was with the primary children every Sunday. Jim loved the children, teaching and singing with them every week making his heart full. Jim loved to be outdoors from swimming in the ocean, to camping and hiking. Anytime things were difficult or worth celebrating you could find Jim singing through all of it. Jim sang in the San Marcos High School Barber Shop Quartet and sung in his church choir. Jim did not judge, and always had an open door for anyone who knocked on it. Many dinner meals were shared with whomever was at Jim and Lenny’s home. He loves everyone and did his best to spend time with anyone who needed time. Over the years and as his children all built families of their own, everyday he would be on the phone, facetime or zoom with his kids (during their drives to and from work) and grandkids for any performance or anytime they just wanted to share something cool with their grandpa.
Jim’s life was filled by so many; in his final weeks it was talked about many times, how many friends and family members would be there to greet him in Heaven. This list includes his father James Swihart Sr., mother Emma Bjorn, step-mother Frances Pringle, and grandson Brandon Ruiz, as well as his half-sister Betty, and brother-in-law Ed, father-in-law Steve Asmus, and mother-in-law Corrie Asmus, sister-in-law LaVerle and brother in-law Stan. As well as so many more family members and friends, we loving call our family. Jim left behind to carry his legacy and share his story, his wife Lenny, son James Swihart III (Tamara), Kimberly Pritchett (Bruce) Elizabeth Ruiz (Michael), Kathrine Swihart, and Christina Viramontes (Carlos), Grandchildren, Beau and Cody Fleetwood, Emma and Tyler Pritchett, Emily and Kristin Ruiz, Mia and Isa Viramontes.
Although this is a loss to the family, it is also a celebration of a life well lived. Thank you to Jim’s Sansum Clinic and Ridley-Tree Cancer Center doctors & teams, Cottage Hospital Compton Wing 1st floor teams, Visiting Nurse Association for Hospice Care and all the friends and family who took the time to talk to Jim and to his family during the past several months. Services for Jim will be held on Saturday, April 27th, 2024. Viewing will be at 9:00-9:45am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 2107 Santa Barbara Street in Santa Barbara, followed by a church service at 10:00am. A reception to celebrate Jim will follow the church service at Tuckers Grove Park, Site # 2, at noon.