Barry P. Swope, 78, of Ringtown, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024, at his home.
Born in Lebanon on March 1, 1946, he was the son of the late Paul Swope Jr. and Betty (Dieffenbach) Swope.
Barry was a graduate of Northern Lebanon High School Class of 1964. He was a professional and self-taught auto mechanic, diesel truck mechanic, and trailer body repair fabricator. In addition, he taught truck refrigeration unit operation and maintenance at the Vo-Tech level. He would occasionally discover incorrectly sequenced maintenance/repair procedures detailed in refrigeration unit company manuals. Subsequently, he would submit and suggest the appropriate changes to the companies’ technical writers’ departments.
Barry also operated his own “Diamond Rio” diesel eighteen-wheeler big rig. He would often complete two round trips a week, picking up tons of swinging beef from meat packing plants located in Chicago, IL, and delivering them to their final destinations in New York City. He was well-known and esteemed locally for his abilities and skill in transforming stock model vehicles, like a Chevelle or Impala, into high-performance street rods or dragsters. Moreover, he was involved with several dirt-track racing teams providing both his fabrication and motor building talents. Barry loved riding his mountain bike, fishing, enjoying nature, gardening, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and reading.
Barry is survived by his son, Jeremiah J., husband of Holly Swope, and their children, Elijah and Jonas, of Ringtown; daughter, Angela D., wife of Sam Crawford, and their children, Alexa, Caroline, and Colin, of Huntersville, NC; brother, Randy L., husband of Andrea Swope, of Mount Gretna; and nephew, Brent M. Swope, of Lebanon.
A celebration of life service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, at the Kreamer & Lum Funeral Home & Crematory, 5 Camp Meeting Road, Jonestown. There will be a visitation at 10:30 a.m. until the start of the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
