Wilma Ruth Vires Swim, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, went to be with her Lord and Savior on September 5, 2026, at her home surrounded by her family.

Wilma was born on April 7, 1939, to Banford and Anna Laura (Harris) Vires in Harlan County. She grew up alongside her two beloved siblings: Vanra and John, in the community of Loyall. She graduated from Loyall High School and following graduation, attended the Bowling Green Business School. She later began working for the Kentucky Finance Corporation, where she worked for many years.

In 1958, Wilma married Jerry Swim, the love of her life. Together, they shared sixty-six wonderful years of marriage and built a life centered around faith, family, and love. They were blessed with two children, Cylisa and Russ, whom they adored.

Wilma had a true servant's heart and found joy in doing for others. She loved to cook and bake, and one of the special ways she showed her love was through the birthday cakes she made for family members, friends, and members of her church. So determined was she that no birthday be forgotten, she kept a special calendar to make sure everyone she loved was remembered with cake on their special day. Sending cards was another of Wilma's ministries. She faithfully sent cards to friends and loved ones to encourage them, brighten their days, celebrate their joys, and remind them that they were thought of, cared for, and prayed for. A simple card in the mail became one of the many ways Wilma quietly share her love with others.

She loved walking, gardening, and flowers, and she was rarely one to sit still for long. She was constantly in motion – always doing, helping, tending, baking, or caring for someone.

Wilma was sweet, but she was also wonderfully blunt and no-nonsense. She did not mince words, and those who knew her never had to wonder where they stood or what she was thinking. If Wilma told you she would do something, she did it. Her word was her bond. She was dependable, strong in her convictions, and unwavering in her faith and the values by which she lived.

Above all, Wilma was the moral compass of her family. Her faith guided her life, and through both her words and actions, she taught those around her the importance of keeping your word, doing what was right, caring for others, and remaining faithful to your God and to the people you love. She was a longtime member of the Loyall Church of Christ.

Wilma leaves behind a lifetime of memories and a legacy found not only in her family but in  every birthday cake lovingly made, every flower tended, every card sent, every promise kept, and every life made a little  brighter because she was part of it. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who were blessed to know her.

Wilma is preceded in death by her husband, Jerry Swim; her parents, Ban and Anna Vires; and her sister, Vanra Vires Thompson. Those left to cherish her memories include her children: Cylisa Howard and husband, David, of Harlan, KY, and Russ Swim and wife, Dena, of Irvine, KY; three grandchildren: Haley Fannin and her husband, Harley, Cameron Howard, and Micah Swim; one great-granddaughter, Norabelle Fannin; a brother, John (Melinda) Vires of Lexington; a host of extended family members; as well as many dear friends.

Wilma's family would like to thank her caregivers: Kristie, Shannon, Laura, Freda, Derek, and Alice, for their kindness, compassion and loving care they showed to Wilma They became more than caregivers – they were a source of comfort, companionship, and reassurance, not only to her but to the entire family.

Services for Wilma will be held Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at the Loyall Funeral Home. Visitation will be 12:30-1:30 with the funeral at 1:30. Derek Pruitt will be officiating. Wilma will be laid to rest beside her beloved husband at the Resthaven Cemetery, with family and friends serving as pallbearers.

Loyall Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Mrs. Wilma Swim.