It was reported that Bob Sherbecoe passed away in Gilbert, AZ on May 26, 2026.
No obituary is available.
David Wilborn Swaim ’78
David Wilborn Swaim, 69, of Salisbury, died peacefully at home on April 1, 2026.
Born August 25, 1956 in Asheboro, NC, he was the son of the late Elinor Henderson Swaim and Wilborn Sink Swaim.
He graduated from Woodberry Forest High School Class of 1974 and from Davidson College in 1978. He worked for Carolina Beverage Corporation/Cheerwine and truly loved his job.
He was an Eagle Scout, a lifelong member of First Presbyterian Church, and a charter member of Rowan Rotary. He was involved with Communities In Schools and served on the Rowan Public Library Foundation Board.
David was a master of the grill, a man whose favorite pastime was bushhogging, and the only person to ever actually enjoy standing in line at the DMV. He could answer any question and repair just about anything. He was patient, generous, methodical, and kind. He was stubborn, but that came alongside a fierce determination to power through any challenge that was thrown his way. He never complained and found a way to be happy no matter where he was, but he was most content outdoors. He enjoyed golfing, camping, and being on the river.
David was unbelievably selfless and he spent his life doing things for others. He loved people; he was curious, thoughtful, and a great listener. He was easy to be around, and it was impossible not to get along with him. His calm, quiet nature provided balance to the lives of those around him. David was the kind of person that doesn’t take up space or draw attention to himself, yet a room feels empty without his presence.
He was loved deeply by everyone in his life. David adored his family and the time he got to spend with them. His joy came from being around those he loved. Those of us that were lucky enough to know and love him will miss him terribly.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Marianna Hampton Swaim, whom he married May 12, 1984; daughters, Allison Charlotte Swaim of Durham, NC and Devereaux Hunter (Alex) of Shelby, NC; son, Ian Swaim (Brooke) of Foxfire, NC; sister, Moffett Churn (Ted) of Catonsville, MD; brother, Doug Swaim (Kathy Brown) of Little Switzerland, NC; and grandson, Hampton Lee Swaim.
A memorial service will be conducted at 10 a.m. Wednesday (April 8) at First Presbyterian Church of Salisbury. A reception will follow the service.
Memorials may be made to the Elinor Henderson Swaim Endowment at Rowan County Public Library or to Rowan Helping Ministries. If you have memories or stories of David to share, the family would love to hear them – please contact Allison at allison.swaim@gmail.com or 704-647-1479.
Summersett Funeral Home is serving the Swaim family. Online condolences may be made at www.summersettfuneralhome.com.
Greg W. Sahlsten ’78
Greg W. Sahlsten age 69, died on December 10, 2025. He was born on November 27, 1956 in Miami, FL to Dorothy Hicks and Carl Sahlsten.
Greg grew up in North Miami Beach as the middle of three brothers. After tragically losing his mom in a car accident when he was two years old, Greg’s father remarried Christine Peacock, who became Greg’s stepmother. Greg and his brothers grew up working in the family-owned plant nursery, learning the value of hard work selling plants and doing commercial landscape installations. He excelled in school and sports, especially football.
Greg attended and played football at Davidson College for two years before transferring to the University of Florida to complete his undergraduate degree. He continued at UF for law school, where he met his wife of 46 years, Julie Wolf.
Greg and Julie married in 1979 and moved to Orlando to begin their careers. Greg practiced personal injury law at Pitts, Eubanks & Ross and T.G. LaGrone & Associates. He later opened his own firm, where he skillfully and compassionately represented injured clients. His dedication to justice and care for his clients earned him respect and many friends in the legal community.
Greg and Julie raised two children, Sonja and Steven. Greg was a devoted and involved parent, nurturing their love of soccer, making the best school lunches, and supporting all their endeavors. Greg set a great example as a father, demonstrating a perfect mix of confidence and kindness. As a family, they enjoyed many vacations, especially to the Florida Keys, where Greg had also vacationed growing up.
In 2008, Greg was diagnosed with esophageal cancer and survived numerous complications with remarkable resilience. Over the next 17 years, despite his physical limitations, Greg embraced life fully, golfing with friends, attending his beloved Gator games, spending weekends at New Smyrna Beach, and traveling through Europe.
Greg was preceded in death by his parents and brother Carl Sahlsten. He is survived by his wife Julie Wolf; daughter Sonja Sahlsten (Scott Tungate); son Steven Sahlsten; brother Curt Sahlsten; and many beloved friends.
A celebration of life will be on Sunday, January 11, 2026 from 3-6PM at The Ballroom at Historic Dubsdread.
Richard Lee “Rick” Rauck ’78
Surrounded by his family, Dr. Richard Lee “Rick” Rauck passed away on October 21, 2025, at the age of 69.
Whether he was sailing the BVI, cultivating for future generations the family’s property in the North Carolina Mountains or cycling FAST with friends, Rick lived life to the fullest and unapologetically. “It’s better to beg for forgiveness than to ask for permission” was more than a platitude, it was a foundation for his well lived life of adventure, kindness, laughter and joy.
Rick was born to Robert and Elizabeth Rauck, and raised in Hamilton, Ohio. Rick brought his mid-western charm South to attend Davidson College, in Davidson, N.C., where he graduated Magna Cum Laude and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Rick then headed to Winston Salem, N.C. to attend the Wake Forest University School of Medicine – where he was President of his medical school class and started his lifelong commitment to the fields of Anesthesiology and Pain Management. Of all the accolades and recognition Rick achieved while at Wake, his greatest reward came from attending a “sex education class” where he met the love of his life, and wife of 42 years, Katie.
After graduating from Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Rick and Katie headed to the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine where Rick served his Residency in Anesthesiology and his Fellowship in Pain Management. Having been awarded Diplomate of the American Board of Anesthesiology, Rick and Katie returned to Winston Salem where Rick served in various faculty positions at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and focused on clinical research and patient care. In 2004 Rick founded Carolinas Pain Institute where he continued as a leader in the pain management field and trained Fellows in Pain Management.
As accomplished as Rick’s professional career, Rick was a tireless leader and mentor in his community. A lifelong cycling enthusiast, Rick was especially proud of founding the annual “Gears & Guitars” bike race and concert event held for the past 12 years in Downtown Winston’s Bailey Park. Everyone was welcome to the party in the “bigger than life” world of Rick Rauck. If Rick was your friend, you knew you were loved.
In addition to his parents, Robert and Elizabeth, Rick was predeceased by his brother, Robert Rauck, of Los Angeles, Calif.
Rick is survived by his wife, Katie Rauck; daughter, Lauren Rauck Komanski (Chris), of Asheville, N.C.; daughter, Catherine Lee Rauck, of Marshall, N.C.; sister, Beverly Kelly (Richard), of San Diego, Calif.; grandchildren, Jack Rauck Komanski and Luke Woods Komanski; Rick’s beloved triplet sisters-in-law, Lisa Jasmund (David), Mary Senne (Jerry) and Susan Jenkins (Wayne); Rick’s cherished nieces, nephews and too many valued friends to count.
A Celebration of Rick’s Life will take place on November 1, 2025 at 10 a.m. at the Centenary United Methodist Church, 646 W. 5th St., Winston Salem.
In lieu of flowers, Rick’s family requests that any gifts in Rick’s memory be directed to: The National Cycling Center to Support Gears & Guitars, in memory of Rick Rauck, P.O. Box 20233, Winston Salem, NC 27120 (www.usncc.org – and look for the link to honor Rick’s memory); or to the Piedmont Land Conservancy, in memory of Rick Rauck, P.O. Box 4025, Greensboro, NC 27404. Condolences may be shared online at www.salemfh.com.
Thomas Yates Keesler ’78
Thomas Yates Keesler, 69, died Sunday, March 16, 2025, at FirstHealth Hospital in Pinehurst after a long struggle with cancer and other health problems.
The funeral will be Saturday, March 29, at 2 p.m. at historic Zion United Methodist Church, 398 Zion Church Road, Mt. Gilead, NC 27306, where Tom was a member, with the Rev. Jimmy Anderson officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery, followed by an outdoor reception for family and friends in the church’s pavilion. Tom was born Dec. 1, 1955, in Charlotte to Lenoir Chambers Keesler and Elizabeth Lewis Keesler.
After catching his first fish at age 5, he began a long love affair with fishing and hunting. He also played soccer, basketball, and tennis at Charlotte Latin School, where he graduated in 1974. As a Davidson College freshman, he was a member of the rifle team, which was described in the college annual as having “its best season ever” with a 7-3 record. A ranked NC junior tennis player, he transferred to the University of North Carolina at Asheville as a sophomore on a tennis scholarship and spent the next 26 years in the Asheville area. He earned a bachelor of arts degree from UNC-A with majors in psychology and monetary economics, a master’s in clinical psychology from Western Carolina University and a PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. He launched a 37-year career in psychotherapy, counselling a wide range of clients, but especially children and adolescents. His first jobs in mental health were at Appalachian Hall, the longtime Asheville mental hospital. Including internships, he worked with state government facilities such as Broughton Hospital in Morganton and the Juvenile Evaluation Center in Swannanoa, and with county and regional mental health facilities and community health centers providing services in Buncombe, Burke, McDowell, Polk, Rutherford, and other Western NC counties.
At various times he also worked in private practice, either individually or as part of a group. In 1989, he edited the Western North Carolina Psychological Association newsletter. He served as chair and as vice-chair of the NC Association for the Management and Treatment of Sexual Offenders. In 2001 he married Donna McRae, and in 2002 they moved to the Montgomery County area, where she grew up and where he spent the rest of his life. In those years he worked primarily in private practice, including with state youth development facilities like the former Stonewall Jackson Training School at Concord, and with the Montgomery County schools and counselling firms in Montgomery and Randolph counties. Tom had a warm smile, an engaging personality, and a perceptive, genuine care for other human beings. In more recent years, he helped staff Montgomery County’s Pee Dee Convenience Site, a recycling center, and developed a business repairing and selling old fishing rigs. He also worked as a security guard.
He was a member of the Mt. Gilead Civitan Club. He taught Sunday school and sang in the choir at Zion UMC and served as treasurer of the Methodist Men. In 2014, he moved into a small former hunting lodge in the woods outside Mt. Gilead, a perfect base for hunting and fishing. He hunted mostly small game like squirrels, rabbits, dove and waterfowl. He accumulated more than 30 certificates from the NC Wildlife Resources Commission’s North Carolina Angler Recognition Program by catching individual fish species of a required size – from small fish like a 7.25-inch Green Sunfish in 2001 to large ones like a 34-pound Blue Catfish in 2015. The NCWRC awarded him a patch and a certificate recognizing him “with the lifetime distinction of Master Angler.” Tom loved history and telling stories. With assistance from the Yarborough’s Roundtable, a Civil War history group in adjoining Davidson County, he traced a line of crack rifle shooters in the family back to a great-great-grandfather in a special Confederate marksmen’s unit. He was a lonely liberal Democrat in conservative Montgomery County.
One of his greatest joys late in life was fishing with a local group of African American men. At middle age Tom suffered a stroke, and in 2020 he had half a lung removed at the Pinehurst Hospital because of cancer. Health problems multiplied in subsequent years. He returned to the hospital March 11 and died five days later. His son, two brothers, a neighbor, and Donna, his former wife, were with him when he passed away
Survivors include his son, Michael Edward Keesler of Philadelphia; Michael’s two daughters; three brothers, Lenoir Chambers Keesler Jr. and David Culver Keesler of Charlotte and William Lewis Keesler of Lexington; six first cousins; neighbor and close friend Bruce Millen, who regularly checked on Tom; and friend and former wife Donna McRae Keesler; and their families.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Zion United Methodist Church, PO Box 176, Mt. Gilead, NC 27306; Mt. Gilead Civitan Club, PO Box 684, Mt. Gilead, NC 27306; or The Foundation of FirstHealth, 150 Applecross Road, Pinehurst, NC 28374.