Schwartz, John Richard

U.S. Air Force Veteran Worked For The Chattanooga Area Food Bank

Saturday, September 19, 2015

John Schwartz

John Richard Schwartz was born in Chattanooga, on December 8, 1963 to Richard Schwartz of Senaca, S.C. and Peggy Parkinson of Chattanooga. He died on Thursday, September 17, 2015 after a lengthy and valiant battle against pancreatic cancer.

John graduated in 1982 from Red Bank High School where he lettered in track, played varsity football and excelled in ROTC. Soon after graduation he joined the United States Air Force and was stationed in Ramstein, Germany and Presque Isle, Maine. After proudly serving five years he left the military and pursued a career in construction.

In 2007, John went to work at the Chattanooga Area Food Bank where he remained until his death. He will be remembered by his family and friends for his volunteer work as mentor to many people struggling with addiction and for his life-long devotion to the University of Notre Dame football team.

John was deeply loved and admired by his family. He is survived by his wife and high school sweetheart, the former Tracy Lawson; his mother, Sarah Cooper Schwartz of Seal Beach, CA formerly of Chattanooga; his parents; sisters, Tonya (Gerald) McKelvy, Blairsville, GA; Carla Miller, Huntsville, Al; Mimi (Mike) Carles, Huntington Beach, CA; step sons, Andrew and Hunter Brouwer, Melbourne, Fl; nieces, Katie Miller of Troy, Al; and Lissa Miller, Huntsville, Al; nephews, Michael, Gabriel and Dylan Carles, Huntington Beach, CA; uncle, Brainard (Louise) Cooper, Chattanooga; beloved cousins, Ed and Sally Koehn, Chattanooga; Lori and Duane Neal, Georgia; Brainard Cooper, III, Columbia, SC; and many relatives and friends across the country.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 21, in the funeral home chapel with Reverend Chris Sorenson officiating. Interment with military honors will be in the Chattanooga National Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 4–8 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 20, and from 12:30–1:30 p.m. on Monday, at the funeral home.

Visit www.hamiltonfuneraloptions.com to share words of comfort to the family.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Chattanooga Area Food Bank, 2009 Curtain Pole Road, Chattanooga, Tn. 37406.

The family would like to express gratitude to Hearth Hospice for their loving care and unfailing support, particularly, nurse, Lora Baker.

Arrangements are by Hamilton Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 4506 Hixson Pike, 423 531-3975.