Obituary of James K. Swisher
DR. JAMES "JIM" K. SWISHER
Dr. James "Jim" Kenneth Swisher, 69, of Lynchburg
went to be with the Lord Thursday,
January 1, 2009 at Drinkard
Health Center.
Born in Lynchburg on August 12, 1939 he was a son of the
late Walter Kenneth Swisher and Rosa Callahan Swisher and was the husband of
Shelby "Penny" S. Swisher.
Dr. Swisher was a graduate of Madison
Heights High School
and received his under graduate degree from Lynchburg
College and earned his masters and
doctorate degrees from The University of Virginia. Go Hoo's!
Dr. Swisher was retired from the Lynchburg City School
System and was a member of Quaker Memorial Presbyterian Church. Jim was the
Assistant Principal of Robert E.
Lee Jr. High
School from 1966-1968, and Principal in 1969 and
was associate Principal at Dunbar from 1970-1971. He was
Principal of Sandusky Jr. High School from 1971-1975 and also the Principal of
Heritage High School from 1976 to 1986. He was a lifetime member of the retired
Teachers Association. He taught and coached basketball at both Holy Cross and William
Campbell High Schools.
He was a member of The Sons of the American Revolution, The Sons of the
Confederate Veterans, The Civil War Roundtable of Lynchburg and was a
coordinator for Meals on Wheels for Quaker Memorial Presbyterian Church. Dr.
Swisher's love for American History led to his authoring three books. "Warrior
in Grey", "Prince of Edisto"
and " The Revolutionary War in the Back Country". Jim
enjoyed playing golf, bicycle riding and spending time on Edisto
Island. He was a past member of the
Lynchburg Host Lions Club.
Jim's love of history and the outdoors could not compare to
the love he had for his wife,
Shelby "Penny" S. Swisher, his daughter, Karen Swisher
Castanes and husband, Jim of Lynchburg, his son Kenneth Todd Swisher and wife, Terri of Lynchburg and
four grandchildren; Nicholas J. Castanes, Christopher J.
Castanes, Sara N. Castanes and T. Hayden Swisher all of Lynchburg. In addition to his parents he was preceded in
death by a sister, Gail C. Swisher and his beloved and furry friend, Milo.
A Celebration of Jim's Life and Faith will be held at 2:00 PM, Monday,
January 5, 2009 in Quaker Memorial Presbyterian Church with the
Rev. Dr. Corey Ingold officiating. A reception for family and friends will be
held at the church following the service.
The family will receive friends from 3 to 5 PM Sunday, January 4, 2009 at Diuguid
Wiggington Chapel.
The family suggests that memorial donations be made to Meals
on Wheels, P.O. Box 1388, Lynchburg,
Va. 24505,
The Muscular Dystrophy Association, 3300 E. Sunrise Dr.,
Tucson, AZ 85718 or
The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America, 386 Park Avenue South, 17th
Floor, New York, NY 10016.