Krishna “Kris” Swamy, 84, of Durham, NC passed away peacefully on Monday, December 25, 2023 while surrounded and supported by his family.

Kris was born September 28, 1939, in Kumbakonam, India to the late Thirupurasundari and Lakshminarasimhan. While studying at the University Department of Chemical Technology (UDCT) in Mumbai, he met and married Jaya in 1965. Soon after their wedding, they moved to the United States where Kris began graduate school in textile engineering at N.C. State University. Kris enjoyed a 40-year career in textile research and development including several patents, travels to 25+ countries across the globe, and career advancement across his jobs at Carter’s, West Point Pepperell, Fruit of the Loom, and SaraLee-Hanes. His early career days led him from North Carolina to Georgia, Louisiana, and Alabama, eventually getting back to Georgia from 1978 to 1986 and full circle back to North Carolina since 1986. Many lasting accomplishments, friendships, and memories were made along the way.

Kris was one of the most energetic, gregarious, and generous individuals throughout his life to both friends and family. He could talk with anyone and become fast friends and frequently preferred to chat with the young people at family gatherings or parties rather than the “grown-ups”. He had a multitude of hobbies including his love of Karnatic, Hindustani, and pop music with his recent attention turned to chanting of religious prayers. He and Jaya spent many evenings and weekends in their vegetable and flower gardens but always worked in or around the NASCAR and NFL football schedules. He had a true knack for organization, attention to detail, and an infallible memory. Following retirement, his grandchildren became his most recent joy and hobby, taking them to after school activities, supporting them at school events, and bragging about them to his friends and family and asking them to take him to run errands after they got their driver’s licenses.

Kris is survived by his wife of 58 years, Jaya; daughter, Geeta and her husband Ram Kumar; son, Ravi; grandchildren, Mira and Rohan Kumar; and his siblings Padhu, Balu, and Hema.

A Funeral Service to celebrate Kris’ life will be held on Friday, December 29, 2023 at 10:15 am at Renaissance Funeral Home in Raleigh, NC. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 9:00 to 10:00 am. A private family-only cremation ceremony will follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Duke Homecare and Hospice.