The Denison Press
Friday, January 29, 1943
pg. 6

Following an illness that kept him in the Katy hospital for several months, W.L. "Pop" Swain, well known retired Katy engineer here for years, died at the hospital Tuesday morning at 1:25.  He had been a resident of Denison for 50 years.  Funeral services were conducted Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. at the Short-Murray chapel with interment at Fairview.  Short-Murray directing.
Born in Polk county, California, he was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John B. Swain.  He received his education there and farmed for a while after coming to manhood.  He came to Texas and located in Bells in 1893, farming for 2 years and then entered the services of the Katy in 1895 in the locomotive department.  He took a run as fireman that same year and 3 years later became an engineer, in which capacity he continued until retired July 14, 1937.  He lived at 206 W. Monterey.
In June 1895, he married Miss Mollie F. Hunter of this city.  He was a member of the Baptist church, and the B. of L.E.
Surviving are his widow; 4 sons, Britton W. of Oklahoma City; Virgil D. of Ellington, California; Herbert C. of Hawthorne, Oklahoma; and Rothwell H. of Manhattan Beach, California.  A daughter, Mrs. C. Prewitt Battaite, lives at Oklahoma City.
Brothers are J. Melvin Swain and James G. Swain of Campobelo, South Carolina; and a sister, Mrs. Clint Ezell of Chesnee, South Carolina.  9 grandchildren also survive.