ELKHART -- Marjorie June Swoape, 88, of Elkhart, died at 5 a.m. Monday (Dec. 14, 2009) in Elkhart General Hospital.

She was born Nov. 18, 1921, in Elkhart to Frank E. and Mildred W. (Curtis) Whitmeyer. She married William A. "Bill" Swoape in 1953 in Elkhart. He died in 1980.

Mrs. Swoape is survived by one son, David L. (Vickie L.) Jordan of Goshen; three daughters, Debi L. Coody of Middlebury, Willa J. Harris of Elkhart and Judith A. Reid of Augusta, Ga.; one half-brother, Wayne Whitmeyer of Ohio; one half-sister, Phyllis Sanders of Elkhart; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by two sons, Tom and Billy Jordan; one grandson, Adam Johnston; one brother, Frank Whitmeyer; and one sister, Winifred Raguth.

Mrs. Swoape was an avid cook who cooked professionally for several area restaurants for more than 40 years, including the Bacon Hill Judd's Drugstore food counter, where she worked for 22 years until it closed in the 1990s. Potato soup and fried chicken were specialties she cooked for her family.

Mrs. Swoape was a member of Elkhart VFW 88 Ladies Auxiliary and a former member of the Elkhart DAV 19 Ladies Auxiliary. She loved to talk and make friends, and camp and travel, visiting Alaska, Hawaii and Canada.

Cremation has taken place. Friends may call one hour prior to Friday's 6 p.m. memorial service at Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart. Pastor Dale Turner will officiate.

Memorials may be given to The Marjorie J. Swoape Memorial Fund in care of the funeral home. Visit www.billingsfuneralhome.com to send online condolences.