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Leon “Bus” Swartley, 80 of Steelton passed away on Thursday, February 11, 2010. He was born October 8, 1929 at 316 Main Street on Steelton's West Side. He was preceded in death by brothers Vernie, Harold and Leonard “Tunney”.

He graduated from the West Side School and attended Steelton High School until his enlistment in 1946 in what was then the Army Air Corp.

He served his country proudly as one of the “Greatest Generation” and retired in 1968 after a career with the U.S. 8 th Air Force, Strategic Air Command as a Staff Sergeant. He was a veteran of the Korean War. In addition to his 20 years of active military service he held positions with Bethlehem Steel, HUD, Three Mile Island and Willow Garden Apartments.

He was a member of the USAF Sergeants Association and a life member of the following organizations; Fifth Ward Club of Steelton, VFW and American Legion. Leon had a passion for any effort that supported veteran's affairs and was often active in that cause.

He is survived by his former wife Ruth Swartley (Yetter) of Hershey, three daughters; Susan Layton of Middletown; Sheila Forrester & husband Ray of Lower Paxton; Brenda Swartley of Dillsburg, a son Eric Swartley & wife Kim of West Hanover; two sisters, Rhae Senior and Marie Swartley of Middletown; six grandchildren, Helen and Jessica Swartley, Sean St. Amand, Danielle Kryscio, Zachary Long and Adam Layton; three great grand children Leah, Kassidy and Jace who always left Pappy with a sparkle in his eye.

Memorial services will be held on Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. in the Wiedeman Funeral Home, 357 South Second Street, Steelton, with the Rev. David D. Biser, Vision Pastor, CrossPoint United Methodist Church, Lower Paxton Township, Officiating. A visitation will be held on Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. in the funeral home. Leon has made the ultimate donation to medicine in his commitment to the Humanity Gifts Registry. Burial will be held in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery at a later date.

Leon lived life on his own terms and never had an opinion he wouldn't share. He found tremendous satisfaction in helping those less fortunate than himself and did so selflessly with no expectation of reciprocation. He could brighten the day of a struggling senior citizen or cheer a disgruntled youngster just by being himself, he never met a stranger.

In lieu of flowers, Leon would be thrilled if everyone just did something nice for someone else today, as he often said “it doesn't cost anything to be nice” or a contribution may be made in his memory to the Lebanon VA Medical Center, 1700 South Lincoln Avenue, Lebanon, PA 17042.