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08/25/10 - NNHS Newsletter - Les Sweeney

Charles Leslie Sweeney
(15 Jan 1916 - 23 Aug 2010)

Dear Friends and Schoolmates,   

   We have another sad edition of the NNHS Newsletter today.  Les Sweeney, father of    Dick Sweeney ('61) of MD,    Phyllis Sweeney Snyder ('63) of TN, and Tina Gustin Haney of VA, passed away in Loudon, Tennessee on Monday, August 23, 2010 at the age of 94.

    Mr. Sweeney will be remembered by the grateful citizenry as the man "instrumental in locating and restoring the first ship built in the yard, the Dorothy, now proudly displayed at the yard's main entrance," as shown in this gorgeous 2004 image by        Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA.    
Monday, December 27, 2004
 


From the Daily Press - 08/24/10:

    Charles L. Sweeney
 
LOUDON, TENN. - Charles Leslie Sweeney (Les), a seven year resident of Loudon and formerly of Newport News, Va., died peacefully Aug. 23, 2010, at The Neighborhood in Tellico Village, Tennessee.

He was born Jan. 15, 1916, in Norfolk, Va., to Robert and Nettie Sweeney. Les made a career with the Newport News Shipbuilding, with over 40 years in the Sheet Metal Dept. and Ship Repair. Prior to retirement, he was instrumental in locating and restoring the first ship built in the yard, the Dorothy, now proudly displayed at the yard's main entrance. Retirement lasted one day when he joined the Jamestown Festival Park, in Virginia, to head up restoration of the three ships on display, the Susan Constant, the Godspeed and the Discovery. Upon completion of the ships, he again retired and was again immediately employed by Rancorn Wildman Architects, to administer the construction of the Virginia Air & Space Center in Hampton, Va.

Besides being a master boat builder, Les was a beloved husband and an extraordinary father and friend, who will be missed by all. Your family and friends wish you Godspeed.

Les was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Edna Sweeney; sister, Ruby Robertson; and brothers, Lee and Edward Sweeney.

He is survived by one sister, Genevieve Delinger of Virginia Beach, Va.; son, Dick Sweeney of Edgewater, Md.; daughters, Phyllis Snyder of Loudon, Tenn., and Tina Gustin Haney of Norfolk, Va.

Friends are invited to Tellico Village Community Church, at 9 a.m. on August 28, 2010, for a memorial service. Les will be interred at Peninsula Memorial Park, in Newport News.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the .
Click Funeral Home in Lenoir City, Tenn., is in charge of arrangements.

www.clickfuneralhome.com
View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.

Published in the Daily Press from August 24 to August 25, 2010.
Visit Guest Book
 
 

August 24, 2010

Very creative person with a very gentle personality and a friend of my mother and his sister Ruby.

~ Jerry Robertson, McLean, Virginia
 

 
August 24, 2010
 
My Uncle Leslie was a wonderful man, friendly and wise. He was my father's best sailing buddy. He will be missed .
 
~ Wm. Lee Robertson II, Alexandria, Virginia 
 

 
August 24, 2010
 
Our hearts go out to the family of Les in this time of sadness. We will always remember Les as a kind, gentle, talented and caring family man who was always warm and welcoming to family and friends. You will be missed. Rest in peace.
 
~ Tina & Ruth Burroughs, Newport News, Virginia
 

 
August 24, 2010

Our thoughts and prayers are with each of you.
Uncle Les was indeed a great man and will leave many great and wonderful memories.

Carolyn & Eddie Sweeney, Jacksonville, North Carolina
 

 
August 24, 2010
 
I was very sorry to hear of your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

~ Buddy Helterbran, Ligonier, Pennsylvania 
 
 
August 25, 2010
 
We fondly remember Les as being a wonderful neighbor in Shore Park. What a hard worker and so talented. Our thoughts go out to the family.

~ Nancy and Stewart Rodgers, Newport News, Virginia 
 
 
August 25, 2010
 
I had the pleasure of working with Les on the restoration of the Dorothy in 1976. He was a hard worker and a good friend, and the result of his labors, especially the propeller that he made in his garage, still sits proudly on Washington Avenue in Newport News.

~ Bill Fox, Williamsburg, Virginia  
 
 
August 25, 2010
 
My thoughts go out to the family. I first met Les in 1984. He was quite a guy....young at heart but he knew how to get the job done. I will always remember him tossing a frisbee down the hallway in a hotel in San Juan, PR !! Another one's gone aloft.

~ Neil Tanner, Mathews, Virginia
 

 
August 25, 2010
 
My thoughts and prayers go out to the family. Tina was one of my Girl Scouts and Edna was my friend.
May your entire family be blessed.

~ Bertha Stewart, Newport News, Virginia 
 
 
August 26, 2010
 
To the entire Sweeney family: I offer my sincere sympathy to you in your loss. Mr. Sweeney was an outstanding man and had so much talent. I am proud to say that I attended his estate sale in Shore Park several years ago and purchased some treasures from the Jamestown ship creation and other memorabilia. I recall your entire family at Orcutt Avenue Baptist Church and with fond thoughts. May God sustain you in your difficult time.
Fred and Patty Andrews Mays of N.N. VA
 

 
August 27, 2010
 
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August 27, 2010
 
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  Our deepest sympathies are extended to the Sweeney family and their friends at this difficult time.


  Y'all take good care of each other!  TYPHOONS FOREVER! We'll Always Have Buckroe!

                          Love to all, Carol

==============================================

NNHS CLASS OF '65 WEB SITE: http://www.nnhs65.com

PERSONAL WEB SITE: http://www.angelfire.com/weird2/cluckmeat

==============================================

Carol Buckley Harty
618-530-9092


Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me

Words by Edward Hopper

Music by John E. Gould, 1871


Jesus Savior, pilot me over life's tempestuous sea;
Unknown waves before me roll, hiding rock and treacherous shoal;
Chart and compass came from Thee; Jesus, Savior, pilot me.

As a mother stills her child, Thou canst hush the ocean wild;
Boisterous waves obey Thy will, when Thou say'st to them "Be still!"
Wondrous Sov'reign of the sea, Jesus, Savior, pilot me.

When at last I near the shore and the fearful breakers roar,
'Twixt me and the peaceful rest; then, while leaning on Thy breast,
May I hear Thee say to me, "Fear not, I will pilot thee."


"Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me" midi and lyrics courtesy of http://my.homewithgod.com/heavenlymidis2/pilotme.html - um, a long time ago...

Greg Olsen Paintings courtesy of http://gregolsengallery.com – 01/27/05

Navy Seal clip art courtesy of http://www.onemileup.com/miniSeals.asp - 05/29/06

Blackwork Flowers Divider Line clip art courtesy of http://www.bravenet.com - 08/12/04

Image of "Dorothy in the Snow" courtesy of Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA - 12/27/04
Thanks, Dave!

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