KERNERSVILLE After a dauntless battle of complications following two stem-cell transplants, Geoffrey Swift Truelove passed away at Wake Forest Medical Center Saturday evening, April 8, 2017, in the presence of his unfailing devoted wife, Paige Cook Truelove, and other family members who held Geoffrey and comforted him during his last moments of life.
Born in Oldham, England on January 18, 1950, Geoffrey was the youngest child of the late Swift and Lily Mahon Truelove. His surviving family members include his son, Daniel Swift Truelove, a sister, Marie Truelove, a brother, John Frederick Truelove, one niece, Mollie, two nephews, Sean and Jayson, two grand nieces, Lily and Elizabeth; all of whom reside in England.
However, when Geoffrey and Paige married almost ten years ago, he inherited a second family, all of whom are devastated by his passing; we all love Geoffrey inexpressibly. Geoffrey was a graduate of Stamford Modern School in Ashton-Under-Lyne, England, and then Studied Aeronautical Engineering at what is now the University of Manchester. Geoffrey played soccer in England and while living in Winston-Salem, he played on a team and loved the game. Geoffrey played an English concertina and guitar, often playing some of John Denver’s classics, and sang whenever the opportunity arose. And while in England, Geoffrey often sang in pubs. He was a voracious reader and poetry lover, and always took immense pride in his woodworking.
Geoffrey spent most of his life in Oldham, England until 1989 at which time England was struggling with a seemingly unending recession. At that time, Geoffrey made the gallant move to the United States and after numerous trade jobs, he soon accepted a position as a furniture designer and draftsman by a design firm in Winston-Salem. Several years later, Geoffrey developed a friendship with a Kernersville woman, Sallie Greenfield, who assisted him in establishing a woodworker business. Geoffrey continued as a woodworker through the summer of 2016 until he decided to opt for a stem cell transplant for his Myelofibrosis, a rare blood cancer. Geoffrey assisted Sallie Greenfield in the care of her Charolais cattle, which had been in her family for generations. Occasionally, the Kernersville police would call Geoffrey to advise the cows were on the loose, roaming the streets of Kernersville. Geoffrey would gear up with his “sweet feed” and made the rounds of all the cows’ old haunts. Eventually he’d find them, at which time he would greet the cows with a special call, and they would come running for their delicious “sweet feed,” and Geoffrey would deliver them back to their green pastures.
On Thursday, April 13, at 4:00, family and friends will attend a service of remembrance of Geoffrey Truelove at Linville Chapel on the campus of Oak Ridge Military Academy in Oak Ridge. This is the same chapel and the same officiating Pastor, the Rev. Bill Campbell, who married Paige and Geoffrey. Afterwards, the family will receive friends at 2111 Oak Ridge Road, the home of Sam and Victoria Cook.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks to please send donations to any of the following non-profit organizations:
MPN Foundation www.mpnresearchfoundation.org
American Cancer Society www.cancer.org
Rescue Ranch www.rescueranch.com
