Cora Jane Swanner, 82, of Gas City, finished her race at 2:35 p.m. on Monday, August 15, 2022, in her home surrounded by her family, just one day before she would have turned 83 years old. She was born at home in Gas City on August 16, 1939, to Don and Jean Millspaugh.
Cora married Paul on September 11, 1956, and they were married for 65 years. She went back to school to be an example to her children and graduated from Mississinewa High School in 1977 with her son Mark, attended Ball State University, and attended Christian Training Center in Ft. Wayne in 1985.
Cora was a proofreader at the Chronicle-Tribune when she was just 16 years old. She managed the Gas City License Branch in the early 1970s and was a long-time clerk for Millspaugh Auctioneers. She worked in the family-owned shoe store business, Shoe City and Lasky’s, in Gas City, Marion, Peru, and Wabash, starting in the mid-1970s through 2010 and was the manager for the Wabash store.
During her years in the shoe store, she donated hundreds of shoes and articles of clothing to the “Soles for Souls” organization for homeless children, donated shoes to children in the Dominican Republic, and donated shoes, boots, and clothes to the victims of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita, and fire victims in Marion. Cora was always involved in some type of charitable endeavor, including delivering meals to local Vietnam Veterans, and Thanksgiving dinners to shut-ins in Grant County.
Cora was a member of Eastview Wesleyan Church, where she served faithfully for many years as a church board member and was a beloved friend to all. Cora was instrumental in launching the weekly World Changers ministry for elementary-aged children, started the weekly Circle Makers Bible study for women, participated in several Valentine Galas where she always drew the biggest laughs, spearheaded the community picnic, which became an annual event, helped implement the Operation Christmas Child shoebox ministry, and countless other events and ministries. She loved her family and church family and often graciously “invited” her children and grandchildren to serve alongside her.
When Cora was 70 years old, she went on a missions trip to Ghana, West Africa, with her daughter Janie, making new friends and leading many to Christ. What an adventurous spirit she had!
She was a champion for children and made an impact on not only the children in her own family, but the children in her neighborhood and was known to bring lots of kids with her to church, and was a mentor for high school students through Project Leadership. She won “MOM Indiana” in 1992 and represented Indiana for the MOM USA competition for the national title that same year in Lexington, Kentucky, and was crowned MOM USA. Her love and capacity for people is unsurpassed and she had a way of making everyone feel loved and welcomed.
Her house was gutted by a fire in the early 1970s, including losing all of their family belongings, but never lost her faith. One of her heroes in her faith journey was Corrie Ten Boom, and she embraced the practice of praising and thanking God for everything, and she encouraged everyone around her to do the same. She once said, “The best thing I can leave my family is my testimony of the faithfulness of God.”
Survivors include her husband, Paul, Gas City; sons Brian (Maryann) Swanner, Gas City; Mark (Robin) Swanner, Hendersonville, TN; Greg (Stacy) Swanner, Marion; Marty (Jamie) Swanner, Taylorsville, MS; Mitch (Carina) Swanner, Gas City; and daughters Janie (John) Berry, Marion; and Anna (Mike) Bartrom, Marion. She is also survived by her sister, Tass Horn, Upland, and brother Morrie (Nancy) Millspaugh, Fishers. She is also survived by 19 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren, 3 great-great-grandchildren, and countless nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Don and Jean Millspaugh, brothers Clayton and Fred Millspaugh, and sister-in-law Jeanette Millspaugh.
Viewing will be on Monday, August 22, 2022 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at Eastview Wesleyan Church, 414 N. 10th Street, Gas City, IN 46933.
A funeral service to celebrate Cora’s life will begin at 1:00 pm with Rev. Mark Atkinson officiating. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery, Gas City.
Donations may be made to the World Changers Ministry of Eastview Wesleyan Church at 414 N. 10th Street, Gas City, IN 46933.
Needham-Storey-Wampner Funeral Service, Storey Chapel, 400 E. Main St., Gas City, IN, is handling the arrangements.
Memories may be shared online at www.nswcares.com www.nswcares.com. To send flowers to the family of Cora, please visit our floral store.