Rev. Donald G. Roper
Retired Presbyterian minister

SPARTANBURG - The Rev. Donald Gardner Roper, 84, of 400 Webber Road, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, Nov. 22, 2007, at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, he was the husband of Annette Hatcher Roper and the son of the late Herschell True Roper and Beulah Gardner Roper. He attended Western Reserve University in Cleveland and enlisted in the Army Air Corps, flying bombers over

Italy and Southern

France. He completed

his B.A. degree at New York University and worked for several years in television. He felt called to the gospel ministry, enrolled at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago and was awarded a Master of Divinity degree.

Rev. Roper pastored a Presbyterian church in Yorkville, Ill., for six years and was called to serve in the communication ministry of the United Presbyterian Church USA for 16 years. He was then appointed to the World Association for Christian Communication in London, England where duties took him to many countries for 12 years until his retirement. Beside his love for the Lord and his family, he loved singing and listening to good music.

The Ropers returned to the United States in 1988 and settled in Black Mountain, N.C., where they became active in the Presbyterian church, did volunteer work for Habitat for Humanity and the Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry for seven years. In 1996, they moved to a retirement community in Spartanburg to be closer to their Hatcher family in Gaffney.

In addition to his wife, also surviving are a son, John Lee Roper of Sarasota, Fla.; three daughters, Hollis Annette Shelton of Chuckey, Tenn., Kim Hatcher Meredith-Bressett of Thetford, Vermont, Aletha Lynn Roper of Asheville; three grandsons, Christopher Shelton, David Shelton, both of Tennessee, and Caz Kuklowsky of Thetford, Vermont; and a granddaughter, Melissa Bornmann of Portland, Maine.

In addition to his parents, Rev. Roper was preceded in death by a brother, the Rev. Herschel Thomas Roper, who resided in Marion, Ohio.

Graveside services were held Sunday, Nov. 25, 2007, at 2 p.m. at Frederick Memorial Gardens with the Rev. Steve Rhodes officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Alzheimer's Association, Upstate S.C. Chapter, 110 S. Dean St., Spartanburg, S.C. 29302.

An online guest register is available at www.blakelyfuneralhome. com.

Arrangements by Blakely Funeral Home.