Shirley Pike Swilling
December 9, 1913 ~ April 3, 2014
Resided in:
Arden, NC
Asheville Butterfly Trail
Shirley Pike Swilling, 100, of Arden, died on Thursday, April 3, 2014, at the Oaks of Sweeten Creek.
A native of Baltimore, MD, Mrs. Swilling was a daughter of the late Dr. Exum Leroy Pike and Grace Wootton Pike. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Thomas W. Swilling; sisters, Lucille Penley, Jean Tanner, Evelyn Plamondon, and Henrietta Pettit; and brother, Exum Leroy Pike, Jr.
Mrs. Swilling had worked at American Enka and Sayles Bleachery. She was a member of West Asheville Baptist Church, where she also worked in the daycare.
Shirley was an inspiration to all that knew her, and her greatest joy was being able to help those in need. Her sense of humor was unsurpassed and she was an absolute joy to be around. Shirley loved her family and never missed any family events.
She is survived by her daughter, Lucy Rohrbaugh and husband Rick, of Arden; grandchildren, Megan Stewart (Ken), Andrew Rohrbaugh (Jessica), and Stuart Rohrbaugh; great-grandchildren, Riley and Kendall Stewart, and Mia Rohrbaugh; and sister, Carolyn Metcalf of Black Mountain.
Mrs. Swilling requested that her body be donated to the Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
A memorial service for Mrs. Swilling will be on Monday at 4:00 p.m. in the Groce Funeral Home chapel on Patton Ave. with the Rev. Dr. Stan Welch officiating.
Her family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to West Asheville Baptist Church, 926 Haywood Rd., Asheville, NC 28806.
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
Dear Lucy and Rick,
I am so sorry to hear about your mother. What a lovely lady. I know you will miss her but you will have some wonderful memories of her always. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Love, Judy Spivey
Lucy you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. Dawn Calhoun
My deepest sympathy.
Aunt Shirley, you will be missed by everyone lucky enough to have known you and you will be remembered with great reverence. Love to Tootsie, Rick, Megan and the rest of the family. You are all in our prayers, Susan & Wayne
Lucy, So sorry for your loss. Your Mother was a wonderful person. I remember her helping my Mother with Girl Scouts. She didn’t live far from us and would always visit. My prayers are with you and your family.
Shirley will be missed by many I knew her in my childhood thru scouting and later at church. Her laughter and love for others will be remembered. Praying for your family during this time. Kathryne Nicholson Jones
Tootsie, Rick, Megan, and family:
Shirley will be missed very much by everyone who knew her. She was a sweet and loving lady. She could not have been a better roommate for my mother when she was at the Oaks. They looked out for each other, now they are both in Heaven together again. Know that you all are in my thoughts and prayers.
Love, Nicole and Shirley
To the family of Shirley, we at Mt. Gilead Baptist church pray that you will be blessed with peace in the passing of your beloved Shirley. We have been praying for you and will continue. God bless you in your hour of need.
Sorry for your loss.My father loved very much and spoke of her often.Exum Pike.
So sad to hear of aunt Shirley’s passing. Her life was very long and extremely exciting. I remember seeing her in her early eighties just after she went white water rafting. My God hold her close for now almost all of her family is together in His Kingdom.