Ivan Lee Swope

Asheville ~ Ivan Lee Swope, Captain, USNR Retired, died on Friday, November 18, 2005 at Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community in Asheville, NC. Captain Swope was born in Cowley County, Kansas. He grew up in Shawnee Kansas graduating from Shawnee Mission High School. He attended Kansas City Kansas Junior College, graduated from Baker University in 1940 with a BS in Business Administration and later from George Washington University with a Master of Arts-Controllership. In October 1940, he entered the United States Navy commencing flight training at the US Naval Reserve Aviation Base at Fairfax Field in Kansas City, Kansas. He continued flight training at Pensacola and Miami, Florida, graduating in July 1941. He was assigned to the USS Hornet as a dive bomber pilot. He participated in the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo, the Battle of Midway and months of conflict around Guadalcanal. He survived the sinking of the USS Hornet, incurring extensive burns. After 4 months in the hospital, he returned to active service and participated in the surrender and occupation of Japan. He completed 23 years of active service and retired as Captain. In December 1942, while still attached to the hospital, he married the former Kay Hathaway of Miami, Florida, who survives him in Asheville, NC. After retiring from the Navy, he joined First Federal Savings & Loan Association of Miami, retiring after 16 years. He and Kay have two daughters, Anne Swope Hennessey of Stone Mountain, GA and Elizabeth Lee Swope of Hendersonville, NC. Their two granddaughters are Sarah Catherine Hennessey and Allison Leigh Hennessey, both of Stone Mountain, GA. He is also survived by his sister, Eileen and her husband Vincent Rieke of Shawnee, Kansas and numerous nieces and nephews. Graveside military honors will be conducted 10 AM Tuesday at the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Black Mountain. A memorial service will be held 2:00 PM Monday in St. Giles Chapel at Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community with the Rev. Morgan Gardner officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Giles Chapel, Deerfield 1617 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, NC 28803 or to Care Partners-Mountain Area Hospice, P.O. Box 25338 Asheville, NC 28813 .