Janet C. Champion

Janet Cline Champion, 93, of McConnellsburg, PA, passed away peacefully on October 16, 2025 at Harpers Stations Assisted Living Facility in Gainesville, VA.

Born on July 31, 1932, in McConnellsburg to Raymond Merrill Cline and Mary Elizabeth Cline. Janet graduated from high school in 1950 and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree from Juniata College in 1954. In that same year, Janet married Robert Lowell Champion, whom she was married to for forty-five years. Janet worked as a government employee with the Central Intelligence Agency and relocated with Robert to Spain from 1956 to 1958. Janet enjoyed working in Spain with the Resident Construction Office until Robert's decommission from the Navy and their relocation back to the United States in 1958.

In 1969, Janet gave birth to her only child, David L. Champion, while living in Vienna, VA. She would live in Vienna until 1994, before relocating back to her childhood hometown of McConnellsburg. In 1999, Robert passed away after forty-five years of marriage. Several years later, she found a new companion, Wallace Anthony Mellott, with whom she spent time with until his passing in 2018.

Janet dedicated her life to being a homemaker and devoted mother. Her devotion to her family, passion for gardening, cooking and entertaining family and friends in the gazebo fulfilled her life until the end.

Janet was a wonderful grandmother to her two grandchildren, Alexis Marie Champion and Erica "Ricky" Elizabeth Champion. Her grandma moments included trips to McDonald's for breakfast, horseback riding lessons, and evening drives in the golf cart.

She is survived by her only child, David L. Champion; her cherished grandchildren; Alexis Marie Champion and Erica "Ricky" Elizabeth Champion; her sister, Martha C. Harness; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, George B. Cline and sisters, Helen C. Clusman, Mary P. Ott and Joyce C. Engal.

A graveside service will be held at Magsom private cemetery on Sunday, November 9, 2025, at 1:00 PM, with Pastor Dick Bernhard officiating. The location is east of McConnellsburg, at the entrance of 1062 Buchanan Trail, McConnellsburg, PA.

Local arrangements were made by the Howard L. Sipes Funeral Home Inc., McConnellsburg, PA. Online condolences may be expressed at www.howardlsipes.com.