George W. Swainston

A memorial service for George W. Swainston, 70, a longtime Reno resident, will be 10 a.m. Monday at the California Building at Idlewild Park, 1000 Whitmore Lane, Reno.

Mr. Swainston died Jan. 29, 2007, at Renown South Meadows Medical Center. He was born July 17, 1936, in Rexburg, Idaho, to George D. and Dorothy Wright Swainston.

Before moving to Reno, Mr. Swainston lived in Idaho, Utah, Colorado and Smith Valley.

He graduated from Smith Valley High School in 1954 and received a bachelor of science degree from the University of Utah. He later graduated from the University of Denver Law School in 1967.

He married Diane Annette DeLue on Jan. 27, 1968, in Denver.

Before his graduation from law school, Mr. Swainston worked as a truck driver and an insurance adjuster. After graduation, he worked as a lawyer for five years with the law firm of Richard P. Wait, and spent two years in private practice, before starting his own partnership practice in 1974 with Roger Erickson and Don Thorpe.

He was a member of the Washoe County and American Bar Associations, the State Bar of Nevada, and the American Board of Trial Advocates, the American Trial Lawyers Association, the Defense Research Institute, the California Association of Defense Council, the Association of Defense Counsel of Nevada, the American Judicature Society and the American Arbitration Association.

He was preceded in death by his wife in 1998.

Among his survivors are his son, George G. Swainston of Reno; daughter and son-in-law, Shauna and Daniel Haipola of Reno; brother and sister-in-law Harry and Annette Swainston of Carson City; brother John W. Swainston of Smith Valley; sister and brother-in-law, Alice Jeanette and Calvin Wiggins of Reno; grandson Tommi James Haipola; and numerous extended-family members.

Burial will take place in Smith Valley.

Memorial Donations may be made to KNPB or a charity of choice.

Ross, Burke and Knobel Mortuary in Reno is in charge of arrangements.