Dr. Samuel Swope

Samuel Albert Swope was born on February 29, 1960 in Hagerstown, MD to Donald and Alice Swope. He started his work career early and worked at the South Mountain Inn where he saved to buy a motorcycle, and then a car- his beloved Barracuda. He was Valedictorian of the Class of 1978 at Boonsboro High School. He immediately entered the Navy and is a Plank Owner of the USS Minneapolis Saint Paul SSN 708. He was discharged with honors in 1986. He went to work for Detroit Edison at the Enrico Fermi Il Nuclear Power Plant in Newport, Michigan where he became a Nuclear Supervising Power Plant Operator. While in Michigan he was on the Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County, a Certified Instructor for the Red Cross, and a supervising Scout Master with the area Boy Scouts. He met the love of his life and married Barbara in 1992. He moved the family to Rainbow Springs Florida in 1996 in preparation of retiring from Detroit Edison. 

He and Barbara opened The Honey Tree Gift Shop in the Historic District of Dunnellon, FL in 1996. He loved interacting with the customers and making people laugh, which always helped with sales. He bought a new motorcycle in 2002 which was totaled in the accident which took part of his finger and severely damaged his leg and ankle. That didn't hold him down for long as he bought a new 100th Anniversary Classic in 2003 and became a lifetime HOG (Harley Owners Group) member. He was a member of the Riverland Knife Collector's Club, the Greater Dunnellon Historical Society, Dunnellon Main Street, and the Historic Village Merchants Association. He donated bears for the police cars to carry, Christmas gifts for the police chiefs list of single mothers, bought a bike for the Dunnellon Police to patrol the Historic District, and helped pay for the new bullet proof vests for the department. Sam was a published award winning poet. He had a lifelong love of learning and achieved near perfect 4.0 grades getting his many degrees. He achieved his biggest goal when he earned his Doctorate in Education. He joined the Department of Corrections at Lancaster Correctional Institution in Trenton with the goal of changing lives and building futures for the inmates, and that's what he did. He was very proud of the changes he helped facilitate and the number of GED's earned at Cross City Correctional Institution where he ended his educational career. 

Sam is survived by Barbara Swope, his daughter Bobbie Standridge, granddaughters Desiree, Karlee, and Maggie, his brothers Gerald Swope, David Swope, Gary Swope,5nieces, and 2 nephews.

A memorial to honor Samuel's life will be held at Watson-Milton Funeral Home, Tuesday, June 4th at 11:00 A.M. Family will receive friends for a visitation beginning at 10:00 A.M. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Watson-Milton Funeral Home, Trenton. 352-463-8888. www.WatsonMilton.com