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Jean Swope
Date Of Birth:March 5, 1919
Date Of Death:December 9, 2010
Service Date:Memorial celebration will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 13th, 2010 at the Meadowod Retirement Community.

Jean M. Swope, 91, of Bloomington, Indiana, died December 9, 2010. She was born on March 5, 1919 in Romney, Indiana to Mabel and George Inskeep. In 1940, she graduated from Indiana University and married Ammon Swope, Jr. in 1943.  Jean traveled with Ammon to the various bases he was stationed at during the war and after the war they returned to Romney, where she reared two daughters.  Jean was employed by Farmers Home Administration, first in Attica, Indiana, then in Lafayette, Indiana.  Upon retirement, Jean moved to Honolulu, where she lived for nearly 20 years.  In 2000, after Ammon’s death, Jean moved to Meadowood Retirement Community in Bloomington, Indiana, where she had a convivial circle of friends.   She was an avid bridge player and reader, and she loved doing crossword and jigsaw puzzles.  Enjoying good health all her life, she was able to travel extensively and took a trip with her daughters to Panama to celebrate her 90th birthday.  Recently she told one of her daughters that she had visited the two places she most wanted to see:  the Great Wall of China and the Taj Mahal.  Jean is survived by two daughters, Cynthia Swope of Reston, Virginia, and Patricia Swope of New Haven, Connecticut.  Her three grandchildren, Nicholas Kukla, Daniel Kukla and Anna Kukla, reside in Brooklyn, New York.  A memorial celebration for friends and family will be held at Meadowood Retirement Community on Monday, December 13, 2010 at 3:30.   
  • From: Glenda (Reppert) Boggess
    Location:Frankfort, Indiana

    I worked with Jean at Farmers Home Administration and continued to keep in touch when she moved to Hawaii by Christmas cards. I had seen the obituary for Ammon but I didn't know where she went after that. My Christmas card was returned and I thought possibly she had also passed. I am glad to know she had more happy years. She always said "if you have your health you have everything" and as I age I know better the truth to those words. She talked of her girls often and enjoyed life very much. I was always a little envious when she would share where she had traveled - Mediterranean, Europe, China, wow what wonderful sites she saw. So I know it will definitely be a celebration of life for her.

  • From: Joyce Haywood Wall
    Location:Linden,In

    Dear Cindy & Patty You have My Deepest Sympathy on the loss of your mother. I have many wonderful memories of spending time at your house and Cindy and I getting ready for the Prom that year at my house--- where did the years go? Take care and God Bless your family. An old Romney and Southwestern Friend

  • From: Steve Kukla
    Location:Costa Rica

    So sad to hear of Jean's passing. She always had a bright smile and words of encouragement for me whenever I visited. And we always enjoyed great conversation around a glass of wine when Cindy and I and the kids would take her out to dinner. These last few years I was able to help her out with little work projects she needed, and we became much closer. I was so impressed with her keen mind and practical sense, and I was always in fear of getting trounced whenever I played cards with her. The best time I had with Jean was 2 years ago when I escorted her on a walk of the campus grounds at Indiana University, and she reminisced about her college days. She was so happy that day.

  • From: Ned Metzger
    Location:Mulberry

    Hello: Cynthia&Patricia I saw your mothers OB in the Lafayette Courier. I am a former FMHA County Supervisor. Jean was my clerk at the Lafayette office (1975-1977). She was a joy to be around; witty or a sense of humor,laughed easily,loyal, hardworker, alot of energy. She gave the delinquent housing borrowers "fits". Sue Brand was her assistant. At that time, Wayne Anderson,Bill Otto & George Cox were around. You have many special memories of Jean. God Bless, Ned Metzger

  • From: Beth  Meyerowitz
    Location:Venice, CA

    Pat and Cindy, Deepest sympathy. I never got to meet Jean, but from everything I heard she was a vibrant, fun loving, and engaged woman. The stories of her travels... and her bridge victories ... made clear that she got lots of enjoyment out of life. She also really loved her girls. Sorry that I can't be there for the memorial. I'll be thinking about you both. Love, Beth