Wes, age 79, died on 25 September, 2026, in Huntsville, Alabama, and was cremated at Berryhill Funeral and Crematory. He was born on July 21st, 1947, in Winchester, TN, and went to grade and middle school there. The family then moved to Huntsville, Alabama, where Wes graduated from Huntsville High School, while winning science fair scholarships from Gorgas and Westinghouse. Wes attended Auburn University (Auburn had the best scholarship offer) where he studied chemistry and physics, and had many adventures and hijinks. He was always cheerful, fun to be around and had great sense of humor; not always appreciated by those in power. Wes left Alabama on short notice and rode a dirt bike to Toronto, Canada, ran an underground printshop, was a bicycle messenger, then moved to Ottawa. There he taught solar heating at Algonquin College, wrote a book, and built passive solar houses. Two decades later, he returned to Huntsville.

Wes was active in the Civil Rights movement in Alabama, was in an “inner circle” with and traveled with Dr. John Cashin, and Wes printed the “Fuse” a historic underground newspaper, and later printed for the Birmingham Times, the black paper there.

 Later, Wes finished up his physics degree at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), and worked there in a high energy laser lab, (optics were a constant in his work, photography a passion). After UAH, he was a NASA contractor, as Raytheon made him an “offer his wife couldn’t refuse” and he worked on flight hardware for the Space Shuttle. Later, Wes worked at Correlated Magnetics and then consulted on an optical dermatology scanner.

Wes volunteered with many groups in Huntsville including von Braun Astronomical Society (VBAS), Meals on Wheels and finally, the Signals Museum of Information Explosion where he repaired old tube radios. Wes and Laverne were well known travelers with Friendship Force.

Wes was predeceased by his parents, Wesley Robert Swift Sr. & Rosmary Swift (nee Siler) and his brother Bill. Wes is survived by his wife Laverne Swift (nee Williams), daughter Emily Gibson (Nick), grandsons Pete and Owen, all of England, sister Penny (Robert) Weaver, nieces Valerie and Jessica, great niece Jaycie, great nephew Jacob; nephew Rob Swift, great niece Lucy, great nephew Max; children-in-law Thomas (Yolonda), Tim (Joyce), Robert (Erin), plus seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

The funeral will be at Latham Church on October13th, visitation at 10 O’clock, service at 11 O’clock in the main sanctuary, with Pastors Chris Martin and Joanne Griffith officiating, and family invites folks to bring stories to tell about Wes. Instead of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Children’s Department at Latham Church, (Wes was a long- standing member), located at 109 Weatherly Rd SE, Huntsville, AL 35803, in his memory.