VAVRS

Ruth Swicegood

Submitted by Carol Gothard, VAVRS Administrative Assistant

Ruth Swicegood is AVAVRS Life Member and the Auxiliary President for Franklin County Rescue Squad. She was a founder of the Franklin County Rescue Squad Auxiliary.

She was born in the small mining town of Dante, Virginia 90 years ago this June 5th. She married her husband, Jack, on January 8, 1960, and they were together until his passing last year. They had three children, five grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. Her surviving children live very close to her.

Her husband joined the Franklin County Rescue Squad and told Ruth that they needed an Auxiliary for their squad, and he felt she would be the one to get one started. She has been active in their Auxiliary since that time. Through her husband, she met and became friend with many of his juniors. A few names that you may recognize – VAVRS Executive Director, Bubby Bish, AVAVRS Auxiliary President, Eddie Ann Orndorff and Parliamentarian, Scott Davis. Ruth is admired in both AVAVRS and VAVRS. She has devoted her life to them. In all her years of service, she has missed less than a handful of district meetings, BOG meetings and Convention.

She thinks the world of both AVAVRS and VAVRS. She loves all the members she has known. Ruth has a warm spot in her heart for everyone in both organizations and considers the members her second family. She says she gets a call from one of her auxiliary sisters every few days.

When asked what was something that most people don’t know her, Ruth replied that she was a very serious person and that she hated chocolate. She chuckled as she mentioned her distaste for chocolate. She enjoys going out to dinner with her friends, word-search puzzles, old game shows, college basketball and American & National league baseball.

She feels that for the organizations to grow and flourish, the members need to put their differences aside and work together. She would like to see more members in the VAVRS and more Auxiliaries for the newer agency members, as well as the long-time ones.

For new members joining the Auxiliary, she says to not talk much at first. Listen, take notes, go over the notes, go to all the meetings and conventions.

Ruth is one of the most beloved members of the VAVRS and AVAVRS Family.