Lynford "Wimpy" O. Swetland

Portville-Lynford O. “Wimpy” Swetland, of 1869 Route 305, passed away Friday (January 20, 2023) peacefully at home.  

Born November 10, 1934, in Olean, he was the second of three children born to Edward and Doris Todd Swetland.  In 1959, he married Shirley Mitchell-Shurer, they had three children together.  In 1980, he married Esther Williams, who survives.

Wimpy was a lifelong resident of Portville and a proud member of the Portville Central School Class of 1952. He enlisted in the United States Army from 1957-1959 with the Rocky Mtn Arsenal in Denver, CO.  He was employed for 45 years for the former Anderson Pattern Works in Portville, retiring in 2004. In the early 1970’s he spent 10 years working construction with Bradley Builders in Allegany.

Wimpy will be remembered as the Spirit of Portville and an Ambassador of all things Portville. He was a member of the Portville Community Hall of Fame, inducted in 2015 and the Cattaraugus County Athletic Hall of Fame when he was inducted in 2019. He was a 30 plus year member of the New York/ Pennsylvania Big 30 All Star Football selection committee, as well as a member of the Portville Rod and Gun Club and the Portville Conservation Club.

In addition to his wife Esther, he is survived by his children, Gary (Elizabeth), Randy (Sam), Terri (Randy), Francis (Laura) and Jimmy (Julie); five proud grandchildren; 17 proud step-grandchildren; and more than 50 loving nieces, nephews, great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his most esteemed companion, his dog and friend, “Buddy.”

Wimpy was predeceased by; two sons, Jeffrey and Matthew; and his siblings, Pauline Braggins and Bernard (Sue) Swetland.

Friends will be received at the Guenther Funeral Home, Inc., 1303 E. State Street, Olean on Thursday from 2-4 and 7-9pm. Funeral services will be held on Friday (January 27, 2023) at 1pm in the First Presbyterian Church of Portville.  Rev. Dr. Anthony Evans will officiate. Burial will be in West Genesee Cemetery, at a later date.

Memorials, if desired, may be made to Williams Syndrome Association, williams-syndrome.org or to the Autism Society of America, austismsociety.org.

Online condolences for Wimpy can be expressed at www.guentherfh.com.