MELINDA SWINGLE

SWINGLE, Melinda Lee, 61, died suddenly Tuesday, July 24, 2012. She was preceded in death by her father, Benny Finley Swingle; and brother, Scott Ferguson Swingle. She is survived by her mother, Elsie Ferguson Swingle; sister, Nancy Swingle Steele; brother, Benjamin Finley Swingle Sr. and his wife, Linda Raabe Swingle; nephews, Benjamin Finley Swingle Jr., Thomas Ryan Swingle, Nathan Campbell Steele and Nicholas Scott Swingle; niece, Annie Marie Swingle; sister-in-law, Debra Robinson Swingle of Lakeland, Fla.; aunt, Margaret Ferguson Hall; and a special cousin, Rebecca Hall Lewis. Melinda graduated from J.R. Tucker High School in 1969 and earned her Associates Degree at J. Sargeant Reynolds College. She attended Radford College and Virginia Commonwealth University. She began her career as a teenager in the Medical Records Department at St. Mary's Hospital. After completing her education, she was employed at the State of Virginia Health Department in the Tumor Registry. While there she attained the designation of Certified Tumor Registrar. She later retired as the Tumor Registrar from the U.S. Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, Va. A memorial service will be held 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 31, at Bliley's-Staples Mill, 8510 Staples Mill Road, with the family to receive friends from 3 to 4 p.m. Interment is private. Melinda shared her life with many canine and feline companions. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Richmond SPCA, 2519 Hermitage Rd., Richmond, Va. 23220. The family would like to thank and recognize the generosity and kindness shown by the City of Richmond Animal Care and Control at 1600 Chamberlayne Avenue for taking care of Mickey D, and to Clay Stiles of Louisa County who has adopted Mickey D. Melinda dealt bravely with a debilitating, lifelong disease. May she find peace now that eluded her in life.


This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.