Ivan J. Roper Of Belmar Dies At 88

Courtesy of Orender Family Funeral Home:

Ivan J. Roper, 88, of Belmar passed away peacefully on Jan. 6 2015 at Jersey Shore University Medical Center.

He was born to the late Alexander and Julia Roper on Jan.29 1926 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Ivan lived with his grandmother and aunt in Louisiana until he was thirteen years old and moved to New York to live with his parents.

He attended Commerce High School, joined the U.S. Navy and served for four years. He went on to Clark College in Atlanta, Georgia and graduated with honors. He met and married the late Grace Trott Roper who he was married to for fifty six years.

Ivan was a mathematician until he retired from Fort Monmouth, Eatontown, NJ. He worked at Camp Evans, The Hexagon, E-Com and various locations for the government. During the time he worked there he received numerous honors and awards for his contributions.

Ivan was very involved in the community. He worked with the men’s club at St Augustine Church. He served on the Board of Education in Belmar and was a past president and member of the Kiwanis and he was involved in this college fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha. Ivan spent many hours and days involved in his sons sports and was a role model to his grandsons.

Ivan is survived by his brothers Marcus Roper, Albert Roper and wife Gloria, his sister Mary Ford. He also is survived by his four children, James A. Roper and his wife Patti, Eric A. Roper and his wife Elaine, Johanna Roper-Robinson and Robby R. Roper. Ivan has five grandchildren, Elizabeth Mayo, Khristopher Robinson, Joshua Roper, Justin Robinson and Lindsay Roper. He is also survived by four great- grandchildren Skylar Wahl, Maya Wahl, Jasiya Robinson and Ivan R. Robinson.

Family and friends are invited to attend a visitation from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m on Wednesday, Jan. 14 pm at Orender Family Home for Funerals, 2643 Old Bridge Road Manasquan, NJ. A funeral service will begin at 11:30 am here at funeral home. Interment will be 2 p.m. at Brig. Gen William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Wrightstown, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Wounded Warriors Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675. To send condolences to the family or obtain directions to the funeral home please visit www.orenderfamilyhome.com.