Joshua Ray Swartzell, 20, of Ponca City, formerly of Arkansas City passed away from injuries sustained from a motorcycle accident April 29th. Funeral services have been scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 7, 2022, at the First United Methodist Church, 2448 Edgemont Drive, Arkansas City, KS. Reverend Stephanie Wall-Brown will officiate. Cremation will take place after the service. Friends may greet the family 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday evening at the Rindt-Erdman Funeral Home and Crematory. For those who would like to ride in Josh’s honor there will be an organized ride from the church to the funeral home after the service.

Joshua was born December 4, 2001, to Justin Ray and Vanessa Ann (Peters) Swartzell in Arkansas City. He grew up and attended schools in Arkansas City, graduating from Ark City High School in 2020. During and after high school, Joshua worked for Ace Hardware, then Vector Tool in Strother Field. He was currently working as a sheet metal worker for Johnson Controls in Ponca City.

Joshua always had a smile on his face and it was contagious. He could lighten the mood in any situation just by walking into the room with his smile. He was a very hard worker, always up early ready for his day with a coffee in his hands. He also had a passion for working on cars, small engines, and motorcycles. He was a self-taught mechanic that enjoyed tinkering and figuring out how things worked. He could fix just about anything that needed repairs. Joshua loved guns. Collecting them, target shooting, working on them, and repairing them if needed. He loved riding four wheelers, but his true passion was riding motorcycles. He died doing what he truly loved, riding. Joshua was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church where he attended Sunday School as a child. Most of all, he cherished his close friends and his family. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

Survivors include his parents, Justin and Vanessa Swartzell; sister Octavia Swartzell and fiancé Josiah Zezza all of Ponca City; grandparents Del Ray and Katrenia Beane, Tina Woodward all of Arkansas City; Anthony Peters of Ponca City; great-grandmothers Lucille Woodward and Linda Nicely of Arkansas City; aunt Alexis Swartzell, great-uncle Shawn Nicely his wife Becky and their families, great-aunt Barbara Cook and husband Chris,and their families, his chosen brothers Jared Worman, Kaleb Oakley, Cayden English, Garrett VanDeventer, Sean McMahon, Paul Brown, Reno Ratcliff, Taylor Kilpatrick, Clark Weiand, Taylor Andrews and Ramon Martinez Jr. all of Arkansas City; and numerous other extended family and friends.

Joshua was preceded in death by his grandmothers Darci Nicely and Kim Beane, uncle Colt Shelby Beane, cousin Dennie Peters, maternal great-grandparents Evelyn and Dennie Lutz, maternal grandfather Daniel Woodward, maternal great-great-grandparents Fern and Elwood Woodward, paternal great-grandparents Neva and Raymond Beane, paternal great-grandfather Billy Jo Nicely, and paternal great-great-grandmother Gene Davis.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Joshua Swartzell Memorial Fund. Contributions may be made through the funeral home. Arrangements are under the direction of the Rindt-Erdman Funeral Home and Crematory. Online condolences may be made at www.rindterdman.com.

Paid Obituary