Services for the Rev. Thomas Ronald “Ronnie” Roper, 72, of Florida, were held in October under the direction of Adams & Jennings Funeral Home, Tampa, Florida, with the Rev. Robert Roper of Texas officiating. Interment was at Thonotosassa Cemetery, Thonotosassa, Florida.
Born July 13, 1935, in Concordia, Kansas, the son of John Clinton and Edwina Mae Tillman Roper, he died October 25, 2007.
He was raised on farms located in Barnes, Kansas and later Decatur, Texas. Rev. Roper set the Decatur High School track and field record with a long jump of 23 feet, nine inches. He also played football, baseball and he boxed in the “Golden Gloves” League. Rev. Roper later played professional (AAA)N baseball for the Fort Worth Cats, the Chicago Cubs and the Brooklyn Dodgers. (Every time he went to the mound the song “Cherry Pink and Appleblossom White” was played in honor of his mother.) After striking out Ted Williams in an exhibition game, he was signed to a major league contract only to find out later he had been drafted into the United States Army to serve in the Korean Conflict. Rev. Roper proudly served in the Army as a Ranger for two years, at the only U.S. Army base without a baseball team in Fort Juachuca, Arizona. During this time his father died and he returned to Kansas to care for his mother and six brothers and sisters. Rev. Roper never returned to professional baseball.
After the military he was employed by the Missouri Pacific Railroad, and after an injury he retired, having served 23 years as a Yard Master. He served in the ministry as a fill-in pastor, but later entered into full-time ministry, serving both in the Assemblies of God and as an independent minister. He was an associate pastor at Watauga Assembly of God and Valley View Foursquare Church in Haltom City, Texas. Rev. Roper pastored in Thackerville for 18 years at both Victory Chapel and New Hope Christian Fellowship (formerly New Hope Assembly of God). After retiring from the full-time ministry, Rev. Roper and his wife of 15 years, Mary Roper, moved to Ruskin, Florida.
Survivors include his wife, Mary of Florida; a daughter and son-in-law, Kathy and Rick of Florida; five sons and daughters-in-law, Barry and Atthina of California, Larry of Florida, John and Liz of Texas, Robert and Missy of Texas, and Shane and Myda of Florida; 26 grandchildren; two brothers, Bill and Jim Roper; and a sister, Darlene Alan.
Pallbearers were Barry Roper, Larry Stricklan, Robert Roper, Rick Bowman, John Roper, Shane Smith.
Adams & Jennings