Swope

Janice Lillian Wills Swope, 77, of Portersville, Muddy Creek Township, passed away at her residence on Tuesday, June 18, 2024.

She was born on Jan. 10, 1947, in New Castle, to John Wills Jr. and Flora Isabel Norris Wills.

Janice graduated from New Castle High School in 1964 and Slippery Rock State College in 1971. She taught in the New Castle Area Schools (Kennedy Elementary), retiring in 1984 when she elected to care for her family full time. She enjoyed volunteer work in many capacities, including Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts. She served on the board of Community Care Connections, Butler, and served on the management team for the Special Olympics in Butler and Lawrence counties. She volunteered at Slippery Rock Area Elementary School and Butler County Child Evangelism Fellowship. She developed a program for and then taught a Bible study for mentally challenged adults for 19 years, which was sponsored by Community Care Connections, reaching up to 30 students.

Survivors include her husband, David T. Swope Sr. at home; two sons, David T. (Heather) Swope Jr. of Grove City and Dion E. Swope of Aliquippa; two daughters, Diane H. McCullough of Hartsville, S.C., and Robin K. Swope of Butler; one brother, Alan D. (Marsha) Wills of Prospect; sister, Diane E. (Bill) Ayers III of New Castle; sister-in law, Judy Wills of Harlansburg; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by two brothers, Lance Cpl. Robert John Wills and Don R. Wills.

SWOPE — The family of Janice Lillian Wills Swope, who died Tuesday, June 18, 2024, will receive friends from noon until the time of service at 2 p.m. Saturday at SMITH FUNERAL HOME, 421 New Castle St., Slippery Rock.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home with Pastor Tom Metz, of Zion Baptist Church, presiding.

Interment will be in Zion Baptist Cemetery, Worth Township, Butler County.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Community Cares Connections, 114 Skyline Drive, Butler, PA 16001.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.