Walter S. Schwaner, Jr.

Greenville – Walter S. Schwaner, Jr., 85, formerly of Lincoln and Dennis, Massachusetts, died Tuesday, July 30, 2019 at Greenville Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Greenville, surrounded by his loving family.  He was the beloved husband of the late Doris M. “Dot” Schwaner.

Born in Providence, a son of the late Walter S. and Helen (Veech) Schwaner, he had lived in Lincoln and Dennis, Massachusetts, before moving to Greenville seven years ago.

Mr. Schwaner worked as a civil engineer for the State of Rhode Island; as landscape architect for C.E. McGuire Associates, and as a project manager for the Rhode Island Port Authority & Economic Development Corporation, Quonset.  

He was a graduate of St. Raphael Academy, Pawtucket, and the Rhode Island School of Design.  An Army veteran, he served during the Korean War.

Walter loved to volunteer his time, and was actively involved with the Boys & Girls Club of Cumberland-Lincoln, where he served as President and Trustee, as well as a coach in the club baseball league.  He was a coach with the Central Falls Lions Pre-Teen Football, and was a pack leader for Webelos in Lincoln.  He was a former communicant of St. Jude Church, Lincoln, and of Our Lady of the Cape Church, Brewster, Mass., where he served on the Haiti Group.  He was a beach bum at heart, and enjoyed downtime on his hammock.

He is survived by two daughters, Diane Perry of Central Falls, and Barbara Persechino, and her husband Ernie Persechino, of Greenville; two sons, Stephen Schwaner of East Providence, and Jeffrey Schwaner, and his wife Mary Schwaner, of Staunton, Virginia; and six grandchildren, Claudia Persechino, Camille Persechino, Victoria Schwaner, Sophia Schwaner, Aurora Schwaner, and August Schwaner.  He was the brother of the late Robert Schwaner.

His funeral will be held Saturday, August 3, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. from Bellows Funeral Chapel, 160 River Road, Lincoln, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. in Saint Jude Church, 301 Front Street, Lincoln.  Burial will follow in Saint Ann Cemetery, Cranston.  Relatives and friends are invited, and may call Friday from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory to the Rhode Island Foundation - Schwaner Memorial Fund, c/o The Rhode Island Foundation, 1 Union Station, Providence, R.I. 02903 would be appreciated.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Walter S. Schwaner, Jr., please visit our floral store.