A.K. Swicegood, Jr.

A.K. Swicegood Jr., 88, formerly of Moore Drive, died Tuesday, March 17, 2009, at the W.G. "Bill" Hefner VA Medical Center in Salisbury where he had been a patient for 13 years. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at St. Luke's Lutheran Church by the Rev. Howard Baker. Burial will be at Sandy Creek Cemetery with full military rites conducted by VFW Post 3074. Mr. Swicegood was born on June 15, 1920, in Tyro to William Aldine Keiffer Swicegood and Viola Mae Michael Swicegood. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 48 years, Ruth Haynes Swicegood, who died Feb. 11, 1996; nine brothers, Ray, Earl, Boyd, Olin, Guy, Cleo, Smith, Harry and Billy Swicegood; and three sisters, Lena Gobble, Mallie Swicegood and Elaine Swicegood. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, 551st AAA, where he proudly served his country during World War II in Germany and France earning the Bronze Star and the Good Conduct Medal. He was a member of VFW Post 3074. He was retired from Erlanger Mills and was a lifelong member of St Luke's Lutheran Church. He is survived by daughters Kaye Blackwelder and Linda Burkhart and her husband, Barry, all of Lexington; grandsons Brent Blackwelder and his fiancée, Lauren Barnes, of Lexington, and Chad Blackwelder and his fiancée, Lindsey Pope, of Thomasville; granddaughter Brandi Burkhart Averett and her husband, Dr. Will Averett, of Davidson; great-granddaughter Olivia Grace Averett of Davidson; and stepgreat-grandson, Braden Averett of Winston-Salem. The family will see visitors one hour prior to the service at the church in Pless Hall. The families will be at their respective homes at other times. In lieu of flowers, the family request that memorials be directed to St. Luke's Lutheran Church, 4299 South N.C. Highway 150, Lexington, NC 27295.