WESTERVILLE, OHIO – Helen Jean Swallen Snell, 84, went to be with her Lord Feb. 10, 2015. She was born Feb. 10, 1931, in Alliance, Ohio, to Eugene Emerson and Helen Elizabeth Anthony Swallen. She was the beloved wife of William Harrison Snell, her husband of 60 years, whom she married in 1954 and who survives. She graduated from Alliance High School in 1949 and Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, in 1953. The couple’s church ministry journey began in Needham, Mass., and included churches in Meyersdale and Martinsburg, Pa., where they served for 22 years. Moving to Warsaw in 1990, Bill served Grace Brethren North American Missions and she cared for her bed-bound mother. In 2000, they moved to Columbus, Ohio, where Bill serves on the pastoral care team of Grace at Polaris. She spent her life serving others as wife and mother, church secretary, vacation Bible school director, junior church and Sunday school master teacher, church organist and pianist. She gave private piano lessons to hundreds of students. While in Warsaw, she served as author and editor of Serving My Master (SMM) notebooks and lessons for girls ages 5 to 18. She was known for her gracious and unique approach of hospitality to friends and family. She made homemade meals and was known for her delicious cookies. Her hospitality and care extended to hundreds of friends from all over the United States and many countries of the world. Also surviving are two daughters, Paula Jean (and spouse G. Stephen) Popenfoose and Martha Snell (and spouse Craig) Miller; a son, Mark Alan Snell; five grandchildren: Jon Paul (and spouse Megan) and Joel Mark (and spouse Jessica) Popenfoose; Crystal Lynn (and spouse Jamison) Lett; John Henry Eichelberger III; and Amber Marie Snell; seven great-grandchildren: Noble, Henning and Augustine Lett; Hunter and Harrison Popenfoose; and Avery and Cameron Popenfoose; and her brother, William R. (and spouse Joan) Swallen. She was preceded in death by a grandson, David William Snell. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Grace at Polaris church, 8225 Worthington Galena Road, Westerville, Ohio. Calling is from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Rutherford-Corbin Funeral Home, 515 High St., Worthington. ***** Memorials to Grace at Polaris Right Start.
