In Memory Of
Gerard Soper
Gerard Soper
Gerard Thomas Soper, 90, of Topeka, died Thursday, February 19th, 2009 at his home.
He was born June 26, 1918, in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Thomas Reed and Johanna Schmidt Soper. He lived in Topeka since 1956.
He served in the United States Army and later in the United States Air Force for over 20 years before retiring with the rank of Major. Major Soper piloted 65 combat missions in a B-26 Marauder based in England during World War II. He flew two missions on D-Day. He was also assigned to Forbes Air Force Base for six years as a KC97 tanker pilot for the 190th Air Refueling Group. Following his retirement, he was a flight inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration for 12 years. He later taught an electronics class at Kaw Area Vo-Tech School for several years.
He was a member of St. David's Episcopal Church, Orient Lodge #51 A.F.& A.M., Capitol Post #1 of the American Legion, and a founding father of the British Air Museum.
He married Alice Schilling on August 4, 1944 at Mitchel Field on Long Island, New York. She survives. Other survivors include a daughter Susan A. Dillinger and husband Ed of Westmoreland, three step-grandchildren, and six step-great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Bettie Schilling of New York; one niece and one nephew.
Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, February 23rd, at Mt. Hope Cemetery. Military honors will be provided by the Kansas National Guard. He will lie in state after noon Saturday at Penwell-Gabel Southwest Chapel, where the family will receive friends from 2:00-4:00 p.m. Sunday.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. David's Episcopal Church 3916 SW 17th Street, Topeka, KS, 66604, Helping Hands Humane Society, 2625 NW Rochester Road, Topeka, KS 66608, or Cat Association of Topeka, 1719 SW Gage Blvd. Topeka, KS, 66604.
He was born June 26, 1918, in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Thomas Reed and Johanna Schmidt Soper. He lived in Topeka since 1956.
He served in the United States Army and later in the United States Air Force for over 20 years before retiring with the rank of Major. Major Soper piloted 65 combat missions in a B-26 Marauder based in England during World War II. He flew two missions on D-Day. He was also assigned to Forbes Air Force Base for six years as a KC97 tanker pilot for the 190th Air Refueling Group. Following his retirement, he was a flight inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration for 12 years. He later taught an electronics class at Kaw Area Vo-Tech School for several years.
He was a member of St. David's Episcopal Church, Orient Lodge #51 A.F.& A.M., Capitol Post #1 of the American Legion, and a founding father of the British Air Museum.
He married Alice Schilling on August 4, 1944 at Mitchel Field on Long Island, New York. She survives. Other survivors include a daughter Susan A. Dillinger and husband Ed of Westmoreland, three step-grandchildren, and six step-great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Bettie Schilling of New York; one niece and one nephew.
Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, February 23rd, at Mt. Hope Cemetery. Military honors will be provided by the Kansas National Guard. He will lie in state after noon Saturday at Penwell-Gabel Southwest Chapel, where the family will receive friends from 2:00-4:00 p.m. Sunday.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. David's Episcopal Church 3916 SW 17th Street, Topeka, KS, 66604, Helping Hands Humane Society, 2625 NW Rochester Road, Topeka, KS 66608, or Cat Association of Topeka, 1719 SW Gage Blvd. Topeka, KS, 66604.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Gerard Soper, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Sunday, February 22, 2009
2:00 - 4:00 pm (Central time)
Dove Cremations & Funerals - Southwest
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