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A Memorial Service for Virginia (Jeannie) Deutz Swope 83, of Hye, was held December 15, 2008 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Cypress Mill, Texas. Internment followed at Mission Park North, San Antonio. Jeannie was born August 1, 1925 in San Luis Potosí, Mexico to Helen Bettley Deutz and Henry Deutz, Jr. She died December 11, 2008.

Jeannie attended San Antonio public schools and graduated from Trinity University in 1946. She married John Gordon Swope, Jr., in February 1946 and the newlyweds moved to Galveston/Texas City where their three children were born. They moved to Austin in 1952 when Gordon attended the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest. After graduation from seminary, they moved to Lake Jackson to start St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church and Jeannie was busy raising her children. In 1959 they moved to Beaumont where Jeannie was active in the life of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, particularly singing in the choir and with the Episcopal Church Women. In 1965 the Swopes moved to Little Rock, Arkansas. During the time in Little Rock Jeannie worked for a publishing company and was active in the church choir at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church.

In 1981 the Swopes retired to the Hill Country of Texas and built their retirement home on 30 acres in the suburbs of Hye. Jeannie worked for the Johnson City Record Courier and as a volunteer for the Johnson City Library. At St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Cypress Mill, she was an active member of the Altar Guild. During this time, Jeannie became involved with Education for Ministry and was a mentor for several EFM groups. During retirement, Jeannie began weaving and developed a passion for Celtic Spirituality.

There were three important things in Jeannie’s life – her husband and his ministry and her two daughters. She had a strong, but quiet, faith in God which enabled her to live her life in support of her husband’s ministry. Her faith and loving sense of humor touched many people throughout her life.

She is survived by her sister, Florence Alice (Tookie) Deutz Marshall, her daughters Helen Hays and husband Bob, Dottie Moon and husband Chuck, grandsons John Hays and Randy Moon and wife Celeste, as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, her husband and her son John Gordon Swope III.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hill Country Memorial Hospice, Box 835, Fredericksburg, Texas, Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest Scholarship Fund, Box 2247 Austin, Texas, Doctors Without Borders, 333 Seventh Ave, 2nd Floor, New York, NY, or the charity of your choice.