Robbie Swing

Robert “Robbie” Gladford Swing, 97 of Becks Church Rd., Lexington passed away Wednesday July 9, 2014 in Alston Brook Nursing Home. A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 12, 2014, at Becks Reformed Church, where he was a lifetime member, with Pastors James Byers and Jerry Sanders officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with military graveside rites. The family will receive friends from 6-8 pm Friday, July 11, 2014, at Davidson Funeral Home and other times at his son’s home on Becks Church Road. Mr. Swing was born in Davidson County, on July 10, 1916, to Robert Lee Swing and Minnie Idora Hedrick Swing. He served in the 739th Engineer Company during WWII. After Honorable Discharge in 1945, he began his career as a self-employed contractor. Besides building, he enjoyed gardening and sharing his bounty with his family, friends and neighbors. In his younger years he enjoyed deer, rabbit, and squirrel hunting. He was a member of the VFW and a former member of the Elks Lodge. After his retirement, he enjoyed drinking coffee and socializing with his friends at G.W. Smith Lumber Company. At his church, where he attended faithfully until he broke his hip in January 2013, he was the oldest living member. He served as a Deacon, Elder, and Treasurer of the Men’s Sunday school class. He was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Beulah Smith Swing on March 6, 2011; his parents; brothers, Emmitt, Charlie, twins Pierce and Percy, and Erman Swing; sisters, Fannie Bowers, Lilly Lohr, Alma Leonard, Addie Kepley, and Vergie McCarn. Surviving are his only son, Bobby Swing and wife Evelyne of Lexington; grandchildren, Tracy Kepley and husband Wyatt of Welcome and Krista Boles and friend Steve Czumaj of Greensboro; and great grandchildren, Mycah Caroline Kepley and Hamilton Robert Kepley; and sister, Frances Everhart (Ward) of Lexington and many nieces and nephews. The family would like memorials directed to Beck’s Reformed Church, 2845 Becks Church Road, Lexington, NC 27292. The family would like to thank Dr. Terry Arnold and staff for all the years of caring for Robbie, and the staff of Alston Brook for all of their loving care and support.