William E. Sweeney, Jr.'s Obituary
William E. Sweeney, Jr.
Funeral services for William E. Sweeney, Jr. 85, of Longview will be held at Two O'clock pm Thursday June 25, 2009 at the Chapel of Rader Funeral Home with Reverend David Mays officiating under the direction of Rader Funeral Home of Longview. Interment will be in Paris Cemetery in Paris, Kentucky under the direction of Kerr Brothers Funeral Home of Lexington, Kentucky. Mr. Sweeney passed away Monday June 22, 2009 at Serenity Place in Big Sandy, Texas.
He was born March 17, 1924 in Johnson City, Tennessee to the Reverend William E. and Mary Anderson Sweeney. He graduated from Henry Clay High School in Lexington, Kentucky and earned a bachelor's degree in industrial chemistry from the University of Kentucky. He joined Tennessee Eastman Company in 1950, transferred to Texas Eastman Company in 1954 and retired in June 1996 as Director of Planning, Services, & Quality Programs within the Research & Development Division. He was a lifetime member of Alpha Chi Sigma Fraternity and a member of the American Chemical Society for 60 years.
He served in the 82d Airborne Division during World War II, participating in the Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe campaigns.
He was a charter member and Elder Emeritus of Woodland Christian Church; a member of the Young Men's Christian Association's Century Club; he served in various capacities with the Gregg County Association of Retarded Citizens and the Sabine Valley Regional Mental Health/Mental Retardation Center; a charter member of the Cherokee Kiwanis Club of Longview; and a member of the Tennessee Squire Association.
He is survived by two daughters, Kim Sweeney of Longview and Elaine Sweeney of Cupertino, CA.; one son Earl Sweeney of Longview, one granddaughter, Kathy Teeter, two great-grandsons, Nicholas Teeter and Nathaniel Teeter, sister, Susan Schultz of Springfield, VA.; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife Lois Jeanne King Sweeney, his parents, and sisters Mary Sweeney Bunch and Margaret Sweeney Foley.
The family wishes to express their gratitude to the caring staff at Heritage at Longview Healthcare Center, Texas Home Health Hospice, Margaret's House, Beacon Hospice, and especially and particularly for the devotion and dedication of Daisy and Carl Cox of Serenity Place in Big Sandy.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home Wednesday June 24, 2009 from 6-8pm.
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