Rev. Harold Lee Swope

	Rev. Harold Lee Swope, 83, of Marion, passed away at 5:05 PM, Tuesday, August 13, 2002 at Shawnee Christian Nursing Center in Herrin.
	He was born October 23, 1918 in Martinsville, Illinois, the son of Lester and Margaret (Wheeler) Swope.  He was united in marriage to Irma A. Cramer on May 31, 1942 and together they shared a great romance of over 60 years.
 	Lee earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in education from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois, a M.S. degree in Psychology from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois and a Master of Divinity degree from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.
	He served as a Combat Army Chaplain during World War II in the European Theater of Operations.
	He served as the director of evangelism for the Illinois Baptist State Association (IBSA) from 1960-1966and was director of student work for the IBSA from 1966-1968.
	Rev. Swope served as a member of the executive board for the IBSA and was also chairman of the Church Development Division. Rev. Swope was also a member of the board of directors of the Baptist Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC).  Rev. Swope also served on the Committee on Committees for the SBC and served as a Senior Adult Consultant for them as well.
 	Rev. Swope had several pastorates in Illinois and Kentucky including the First Baptist Church of Pinckneyville, the First Baptist Church of Marion, Matthews Baptist Church, Old DuQuoin Baptist, Kell Baptist and Olive Branch Baptist  Church.
	After his official retirement in 1983, he maintained a counseling service for several years and served 18 churches as interim pastor.   He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Marion.  In May 2001, his home church, Mount Olive Baptist Church celebrated the 60th anniversary of his ordination as a minister. 
	Lee also served for 20 years in two different school systems as an educator, 10 years as a guidance counselor.   In November 2001, he was honored by Hutsonville High School as Alumni of the Year for 2001.
 	He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Kenneth and Morris.  
	He is survived by his wife, Irma Swope of Marion; son, Richard Swope of Milwaukee, WI; daughter, Diana Rogers and husband Roy of Paris, IL; two sisters, Velda Mills and husband David of Effingham and Lois June Graham of Lafayette, IN; brother, Joe Swope and wife Nancy of Paris, IL; five grandchildren, Cory Rogers and wife Ronee of Carterville, Holly Lawson and husband Alex of Chrisman, IL, Angela Downs and husband Michael of Paris, IL,Christine Sorce of Milwaukee, WI, and Lisa Verhagen of Antigo, WI; and seven great-grand children, Justin, Dillon and Nathan Lawson of Chrisman, IL; MiKayla, McKenzie and Mason Downs of Paris, IL and Jordan Verhagen of Antigo,WI.
	Funeral services for Rev.Harold Lee Swope were held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, August 17, 2002 at the Olive Branch Church in Annapolis, Illinois with Reverend Don Mayberry and Reverend Milton Bost officiating. Burial was in the Olive Branch Church Cemetery.
	Visitation was held from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM, Thursday, August 15,2002 at the Blue Funeral Home, Marion.  Visitation was also held from 5:00PM until 8:00PM, Friday, August 16, 2002 at the Hosch Funeral Home in West Union, Illinois, then with a visitation time from 9:30AM until 10:30AM, Saturday, August 17, 2002 at the Hosch Funeral Home. 
 
 

