William James Swope, Jr. | Raleigh News & Observer

William James Swope, Jr. (Bill) died at home at age 77 on February 8, 2014.

He is survived by his wife, Sherrill Stanley of Fuquay-Varina; his son, William K. Swope (wife Denise) of Charleston, SC; his brother, Tom Swope (wife Karen) of Kansas City MO; his step-sister, Susan Martinez (husband Walter) of Witchita, KS; and loving in-laws, nieces, nephews, and a host of long-time friends.

Bill worked for the Wake County Public School System from 1985 until his retirement from education in 1998, serving as Assistant Principal at Daniels Middle School and later at Cary High School. He also taught for a short while at Carnage Middle School and Garner Middle School.

Bill was born in Kansas City, MO, to the late William James Swope, Sr. and his wife Rosemary. Bill and his mother moved from the Chicago area to Charleston, SC, when his stepfather, Chief Petty Officer Albert Wagner, was assigned to the Charleston Naval Base. Following his graduation from Chicora High School, Bill joined the U. S. Navy. He was a Hospital Corpsman attached to the Marines in Korea. After the war ended, Bill fufilled his service at Chelsea Naval Hospital in MA. Bill returned to Charleston, SC, where he and his first wife had a son, Will. He entered The Citadel as a veteran student and earned a B.S. degree in education and later an M.S. degree in educational administration.

Bill worked for the Charleston County School System as a social studies and psychology teacher primarily at the former Wando High School. He supervised many evening programs (adult education, Trident Tech, Community School) as well. There he met and married Sherrill.

They taught at Graded (Associacao Escola Graduada de Sao Paulo), an American school in Sao Paulo, Brazil for five years. In addition, Bill was the Athletic Director for the school.

A local memorial service will be planned for a later date. Internment will be in South Carolina.

A guest book is available at www.CremationSocietyNC.com The family suggests that anyone wishing to honor him may do so through a donation to Hospice of Wake County or the individual's favorite charity.