James J. Swab, age 84, of Woodlyn PA died Sunday, April 19 2015.

Born in Elizabethville PA in 1930, son of Stewart U. Swab and Wealthea Buffington Swab who preceded him in death. He graduated from: Collingdale High School, Drexel University with a BS in Commerce and Engineering, the General Electric Manufacturing Management Program, and Temple University with an MBA. He was a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society, and also was a senior member of the American Society for Quality Control. His military service consisted of eight years in the US Army Reserve, where he attained the rank of First Lieutenant; he received an honorable discharge in 1963.

Mr. Swab joined GE in June 1955 and served yearly assignments in Bridgeport, CT; Schenectady, NY; and in Cleveland, OH. Upon graduating from the GE Program in 1958, he returned to the Philadelphia area upon accepting a position in the GE Aerospace Division, where he held numerous management positions within the quality assurance organization. In May 1970 he was transferred to the GE Power Transformer Division in Pittsfield, MA, where he managed the quality systems organization until his retirement in September 1988, with 33 years of service.

While employed by GE, Mr. Swab was the author of several publications, including: The Quality Engineer's Handbook; the Quality Assurance Program, the Quality Program Manual, and the Quality Assurance Manual. He received several management awards, was a member of the GE Quarter-Century Club, and the GEQC Retirees Club.

Upon retiring, Mr. Swab returned to the Philadelphia area and became actively involved with numerous historical and genealogical societies. He prepared and published "The Johannes Schwab Family: 240 Years in America" in 1994, which documents his family history. Johannes arrived in America October 20, 1754 in Philadelphia. At the time of his death, Mr. Swab was preparing the Benjamin Buffington family history, which documents his maternal ancestry. Benjamin Buffington was the great grandson of Richard Buffington who arrived in America in 1678. He also directed the annual Swab Family Reunion which was first conducted in September 1990. He was also active in the Collingdale Alumni Association, the GEQC Retirees Club, and the Sons of the American Revolution. He has also written his memoirs, and over several years has written many religious songs.

Mr. Swab was an active member of his church in which he served in various capacities including: deacon, Sunday school superintendent, Sunday school teacher, usher, soloist, and choir member. He attended the Ridley Park Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses at the time of his death.

He never married, and is survived by a sister, Mary (Swab) Cole of Ridley Park, PA, and two nieces and two nephews. Mr. Swab will be laid to rest in the family plot in Elizabethville during a private burial. A memorial service at the Ridley Park Kingdom Hall will be held on Saturday, May 9 at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the Collingdale Alumni Association (scholarship fund) (P.O. Box 1426, Collingdale PA 19023).