C. Vincent Swinehart

 Vince Swinehart passed away peacefully on July 7, 2026, surrounded by the family he loved so much. He is survived by his wife, Sue (Davis) Swinehart; daughter, Kelly Swinehart Wehrer (Greg); sons, Kurt Swinehart (Betheny) and Nick Swinehart (Ellen); grandchildren, Ellis Wehrer, Silvia Wehrer, Nora Swinehart, and Wesley Swinehart; and siblings, Lee Bond (Paula), Lois Ann Martin, Scott Swinehart (Shannon), Cynthia Cunningham (Mike), Chris Grill, and was preceded in death by Rebecca Grill. 

 Vince was born in Zanesville, Ohio, on June 23, 1948, to Helen Milhoan Swinehart and Charles Henry Swinehart. He grew up in Glenford, Ohio, living the kind of idyllic childhood storybooks are made of — baseball games, bike rides, and not much else to worry about. A brief stint in Hawai'i introduced him to the ukulele and later guitar, an instrument he'd never really put down. He spent three years at Groveport High School before graduating from Newark High School in 1966, then headed to The Ohio State University before radio came calling. He got his start as a copywriter at WRFD/WNCI in Columbus before moving to Newark in 1976 to become the morning DJ on WHTH/WNKO, and later landed at WCLT/T-100 writing and producing commercials — where he found unlikely local fame as the voice of the Puff-N-Stuff guy. 

 Vince was a true renaissance man, and he never met a creative hobby he didn't want to try. He was constantly drawing, and his output ranged from oil paintings and watercolors to cartoons, comics, sketches, and doodles. When he wasn't drawing, he was experimenting with woodworking, wood burning, stained glass, or his own invention, "Art Deck-O" (outdoor art, naturally). Music ran just as deep; he played guitar and sang with several bands in the 60s, including Jan Heath and the Roadrunners and The Lost Minority. He also found time for banjo, mandolin, mountain dulcimer, and accordion, plus a marimba that lived in the basement. He loved singing Barbershop harmony with the Land of Legend Barbershop Chorus, and took the stage in community theater productions with the Welsh Hills Players, Granville Players, Licking County Players, and Weathervane Playhouse. And if you ever played Trivial Pursuit with him, you know - everybody wanted Vince on their team. 

 More than anything, Vince was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He beamed with pride watching Kelly act, Kurt play football and serve in the military, and Nick play basketball and guitar, and he made sure that love of the arts took root in his grandchildren too. 

 Calling hours will be held on Friday July 10 from 2-4 with a ceremony at 4pm at Brucker & Kishler Funeral Home, 985 N 21st St, Newark, OH 43055, with Pastor Dave Mason officiating. Please wear what is comfortable to you. In lieu of flowers, please support the local arts organization of your choice.

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