Thomas A. Swihart passed on July 4, 2026, at 2:28 a.m., surrounded by his family.

Tom was born on June 10, 1940, his father’s birthday, to James and Irene Swihart. He was the third child in a family of seven boys.

He attended Washington Township grade school and graduated in 1958 from North Side High School in Fort Wayne. He later studied surveying and worked for the Bridge Department of the Indiana Highway Department. Tom joined the Army, serving on active duty from 1959 to 1961. He was stationed at the Forest Glen Military Annex in Silver Spring, Maryland, working at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, D.C. He received an early discharge to attend Indiana University. While attending IU full-time, he also owned a security service for small businesses—checking building security—and worked full-time on the evening shift at Food Marketing. Despite this demanding schedule, he focused deeply on his studies, making the Dean’s List, graduating with honors, and earning his Bachelor’s Degree from the Indiana University School of Business in 1965. He went on to earn a Juris Doctor degree from the IU School of Law in 1967.

His first job as an attorney was with the Attorney General’s office in Juneau, Alaska. When he returned to Fort Wayne, he became a partner at Bowman, Crowell and Swihart, and later started his own practice after his partners retired. Tom retired in 2012 and became Of Counsel with VanGilder & Trzynka.

He was married to Carol Kapp on April 30, 1966, celebrating their 60th anniversary this year. Tom and Carol enjoyed traveling, driving their motorhome throughout the U.S. over a period of 50 years—with popular destinations like Montana, Michigan, Maine, and everything in between—and later spending their winters in Florida. He was an avid adventurer and loved outdoor living, including fishing, camping, grilling, snowmobiling, golfing, and exploring. He was incredibly handy and loved tinkering, performing maintenance tasks and fixing whatever needed repair—especially on his motorhome.

Tom was preceded in death by his mother, Irene; father, James; and three brothers, James (Bob), Larry, and Teddy.

He is survived by his loving wife, Carol; sons, Aaron, Curtis (wife Janelle and grandchildren Ashlynn and Alexander), and John (wife Elaine and grandchildren Kennedy, Lila, William, and Avalee); and brothers, Michael (Susan), Phillip (Sandra), and Donald (Pamela).

A Mass of Chirstian Burial will take place on Tuesday July 14, 2026 at 11 am with visitation 1 hour prior at St Vincent’s Catholic Church, 1502 E. Wallen Road. A visitation will also take place on Monday July 13, 2026 from 4-7pm at FairHaven Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 6557 N. Clinton St. Tom will be laid to rest at St. Vincent’s Catholic Cemetery with military honors.

Memorials may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, Special Olympics, or Heart to Heart Hospice.