Geoffrey Thompson was a champion swimmer and popular swimming instructor.
Mr Thompson, who swam for Yorkshire in his teens and 20s, was born in Halifax, left school, aged 14 and had a varied career.
He trained as a police cadet before becoming a photographer for the force.
Mr Thompson, 74, worked as a cabinet maker before setting up a solarium, called Sun and Hair, on King Street, Huddersfield, with his late wife Patricia in the 1980s.
He worked as a home carer and printer before retiring 10 years ago.
Mr Thompson was best known, however, for his life in and beside the swimming pool.
As a teenager and a young man he swam for Yorkshire and won medals and trophies.
Mr Thompson, a worshipper at Lockwood Baptist Church, also excelled at open water swimming and crossed Lake Windermere alone and the English Channel as part of a relay team.
As he got older Mr Thompson enjoyed recreational swimming and teaching the sport at Brighouse Baths – until his 70s.
When the Brighouse pool was threatened with closure he was an avid campaigner to keep it open.
Daughter Natalie said: “He swam weekly and was very fit and focussed on teaching.
“He wanted to teach people how to swim for the love of swimming. He never took any money for it.
“He continued to swim up until early this year.
“He was very friendly and always wanted to help people.”
Mr Thompson is also survived by his granddaughter Zana and brothers Richard and Philip.
His funeral takes place at Huddersfield Crematorium, Fixby, July 29 (12.30pm).
The family request family flowers only and donations by made in lieu to Mind mental health charity.
