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Madelyn Witt Swain
May 11, 2026
Madelyn “Lyn” Witt Swain passed way at her home in Nags Head, NC on May 11, 2026 from complications of cancer. She was with her husband of almost 50 years, Howard Swain and her much loved Border Collies, Kiera and Sadie. Lyn spent 21 days at the ECU Medical Center in April and into May, was discharged and spent her final three days at home, so apparently getting home was important to her and was God’s will.
Lyn was 72 years old, born on February 1, 1954 in Bel Air, MD to her parents Richard Witt, an engineer and Madelyn Witt, a teacher and an artist. While Lyn’s full name is Madelyn like her mother, her mother went by the full name, and Lyn went by the last three letters – Lyn. In addition to her parents, Lyn was preceded in death by her oldest brother Thomas (Buzz) Witt.
Lyn is survived by her husband of almost 50 years, J. Howard Swain of Nags Head, NC; her brother, Steve Witt of Bel Air, MD; her brother-in-law, Guy Swain (Kathy); niece-in-law, Kelly Swain – Esposito (Mike); grandnephew, Jack; and grandniece, Lucy, all of Raleigh, NC. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Mary Bart “MB” Witt of New Preston, CT; niece, Sara Witt Cummings (Boyce); and grandniece, Vivienne Cummings, all of New York, NY; brother, Michael Witt (Brenda) of Franklin, WVA; nephew, Joshua Witt of Morgantown, WVA; and grandnephew, Rowan L. Witt, a rising senior at the University of West Virginia in Morgantown, WVA; niece, Lauren Witt Tabor (Mike); and grandnephews, Braydyn M. Tabor and Benjamin J. Tabor of Union Bridge, MD.
While Lyn was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 37 and fought it off for 35 years, it did not define her life. She was amazingly athletically active her whole life and was a gifted artist, as was her mother and oldest brother Buzz who was a very successful architect. Lyn was on the ECU tennis team, ran over 20 marathons, over 40 triathlons – winning her age group in the eastern North Carolina Series 4-5 times and completed two International Ironman competitions (2.4 mile swim then 112 mile bike ride then 26.2 mile run) at the ages of 49 (placed 4th in her age group) and 50 (placed 8th in her age group).
Lyn was an accomplished artist, she worked for a firm in New York City and with other companies as she and Howard moved up and down the east coast, co-owned her own design firm, designed and produced her own belt buckles, greeting cards and sold her artwork in local galleries. Her fine pencil drawings of her dogs are most impressive.
Of all her activities, Lyn gained the most pleasure from the many dog tournaments she, Howard and the dogs competed in. They did Flyball (sort of drag racing for dogs) and frisbee related athletic events, with the pinnacle being the 2018 World Canine Disc Dog Championship (the largest disc dog competition series globally) with Surf, who competed very well. One year her Flyball team competed for the national title, finished 4th nationally, and was featured on the Animal Planet TV show. She loved her dogs tremendously and they loved her.
Lyn was known by the whole housing community as the lady who walked her dogs. Even when she was in her power wheelchair in 2024, she “powered” around the neighborhood with help of a dear friend Kathi Holl, still walking her dogs.
To say Lyn was positive and determined would be a great understatement. She was continuously sharp, humorous, full of laughter and creativity. She connected with people in a wonderful way. Despite having cancer almost half of her life, she was incredibly positive. She used no excuses, she just carried on.
Over the 35 years Lyn battled cancer, she spent many hours in hospitals and treatment centers. She became friends with the nurses and care givers everywhere and sincerely admired the work they did, the personal time they gave and the kindness they shared in helping the “whole person” not just the cancer patient.
And of course, anyone who knew Lyn learned quickly that her dogs were an incredibility important part of her life. She loved her dogs so very much and very early in her marriage, realized that Border Collies were the perfect breed for her; very smart and very athletic, traits she wanted in her husband, but found them in her dogs instead!
In lieu of flowers, Lyn specifically asked that anyone wanting to make a gift to honor her, please consider either of these two causes. She was passionate about both and would be so pleased by your thoughtfulness: The newly formed Outer Banks Health Team Member Well-Being Fund, a 501c3 fund of Outer Banks Health, to exclusively support the cancer care team that helped Lyn and so many others at https://give.ecuhealthfoundation.org/give/409942/#!/donation/checkout?designation=1903456 Checks to honor Lyn, made payable to: OBH Team Member Well-Being Fund, can be sent to: Jennifer Schwartzenberg, Outer Banks Health, 4800 S. Croatan Hwy., Nags Head, NC 27959 or to The Outer Banks SPCA at the Dare County Animal Shelter, a 501c3 fund; www.obxspca.org Click the “Donate” button and make your choices. You can honor Lyn or be anonymous at 378 Airport Road, Manteo, NC 27954, 252-475-5620
A Celebration of Life and a 50th wedding anniversary will be held at a later date. Please share expressions of sympathy with the family at gallopfuneralservices.com. Gallop Funeral Services was entrusted with arrangements.
2 Timothy 4:7 -- "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."