Otis Swicegood

Otis Franklin Swicegood, 88, of Statesville, died Friday, July 14, 2011, at Davis Regional Medical Center. Mr. Swicegood was born in Davie County on Oct. 27, 1922, the son of the late Lonnie F. and Maude Murphy Swicegood. He was a retired service technician and worked for many years at White's Sales in Statesville. He attended Union Chapel Baptist Church. He was married on Nov. 25, 1944, to Thelma Stroud Swicegood, who preceded him in death on July 17, 1999. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by one sister, Mae Swicegood Deal. He was also preceded in death by his beloved Shetland sheepdog, Chipper. On Feb. 14, 2003, he married Beulah Wyatt Swicegood, who survives. Survivors, in addition to his wife, include two sons, Lonnie Robert (Buddy) Swicegood and his wife, Sherrie, of High Point and Gary Swice-good and his wife, Brenda, of Harmony; three daughters, Barbara S. Fisher of Avondale Estates, Ga.; Rebecca S. Pettit and her husband, Al Pettit, of Statesville, and Donna M. Swicegood of Statesville; three grandchildren, Jeff Swicegood of Hills-borough; Tara Pettit of Charleston, S.C., and Ryan Pettit of Statesville; two step-children, Judy Cook of Washington, N.C. and Garry Ballard of Mooresville; three step-grandchildren, Jennifer Waggoner of High Point, William Bailey of Bethel and Carol Ingbretsen of Raleigh; four step great-grandchildren; six sisters, Thelma Swicegood, Helen Graham, Betty Jo Anderson, Nell Austin, Margie Marlowe and Peggy Redmond, all of Statesville; and his faithful dog, Tippy. He served his country in World War II, serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps in the China-Burma-India campaign. During his service, he spent several weeks in a hospital in India. The following poem was dedicated to Mr. Swicegood by Sherman Pennell and Garfield Degar while they were all in the 20th General Hospital in India. It was published in The Landmark on Aug. 3, 1944, upon his assignment in Tampa, Florida. Homeward Bound I have lived in the 20th General. With my body full of pain. Ten thousand miles away from home. Just awaiting for a plane. The doctors tried to cure me. They stuck me in my hand. The tap I had within my back, Made me think of the Promised Land. The nurses came through. They took my pulse. She said, young lad, you stay in bed, Before it goes too high, Then they got all excited, And thought I was going to die, They took me before the board, But the board did not decide. Then after much medication, They looked into the sky, And said, "We hate to mention, We think you will have to fly". So goodbye old 20th General. I'm going away to stay. My time is up in India. I'm going to the U.S.A. The Stars and Stripes forever, No more will I roam. I'm on my way to America, Get ready, I'm coming home. Funeral services for Mr. Swicegood will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Monday, July 18, at Nicholson Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. William Wease officiating. Burial will follow at Iredell Memorial Gardens. Full military rites will be presented by the Iredell County Veterans Council. Pallbearers will be grandsons Jeff Swicegood and Ryan Pettit, step-grandson, William Bailey; stepson, Gary Ballard and step son-in-law, Terry Cook, Brian Bennett, Pressly White and Larry Johnson. The family will receive friends at Nicholson Funeral Home today, Sunday, July 17, from 4 to 6 p.m., and at other times, will gather at the residence on Warren Road. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Iredell County or, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The family of Otis Swicegood would like to express our gratitude to Beulah Swicegood, Terry and Judy Cook and Garry and Dare Ballard for welcoming our dad into their family. Nicholson Funeral Home is serving the family of Otis F. Swicegood.