Gladys Swanger

Gladys Underwood Swanger, 85, passed away on Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at Novant Health of Huntersville, North Carolina.

Gladys grew up in the Ratcliff Cove area of Haywood County.  She was a daughter of the late Hugh and Edna Underwood.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, David L. "Bud" Swanger, Sr.  Even though Gladys left the mountains many years ago she always thought of them as home and spoke of them fondly.

Gladys was a devoted wife, mother, and homemaker.  She was also a great Southern cook, taxi driver to baseball games and practices, nurse for scraped knees and elbows, snow shoveler, grass mower, gardener, and great partner of rotten tomato fights.  As the granddaughters came along, Gladys took great pride in watching them grow into young women.

She is survived by sons, David L. Swanger, Jr., and his wife, Debbie, and Daniel H. Swanger, and his wife, Rebecca; grandchildren, Rebecca, Monica, and Amanda; one great-grandchild, Zoey; several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 31, 2021 in the Waynesville chapel of Wells Funeral Home with Reverend John Swanger, III officiating.  Burial will follow at Ratcliff Cove Community Cemetery.  The family will receive friends from 12:30 p.m. until service time.

A live stream of the service will be available at www.wellsfuneralhome.com.

The care of Mrs. Swanger has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville.