John W. Roper, M.D. was born in Birmingham, Alabama June 21, 1929, and died June 19, 2010, at his home in Beaumont.
Dr. Roper graduated from Indiana University School of Medicine in 1954 and interned at the White Cross Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. His residency in Psychiatry was completed at Walter Reed Army Hospital, Washington, D.C. from 1957-1959. He also was Consultant to the Eighth Army Surgeon, and Chief of Psychiatry of the United States Armed Forces, Korea 1959-1960, Chief of Psychiatry, United States Army Hospital and Chief of the Mental Hygiene Consultation Service, Fort Hood, Texas 1960-1962.
After the military, he established a private practice in Beaumont, Texas from 1962 to 1983 “to get away from the snow.” He was the staff psychiatrist in all hospitals in Beaumont. During these years, he was a consultant to the Mental Health Mental Retardation Agency, the Family and Children’s Services in Port Arthur, Texas, the Family Service Agency of Beaumont, the Buckner Children’s Home, and to the Land Manor Organization of Halfway Houses. In 1983, he became a staff member of Life Resource (now Spindletop MHMR) and was Medical Director for two decades.
He was a member of the following organizations: Thirty Eight Parallel Medical Society, The American Medical Association, The Jefferson County Medical Association, The Texas Medical Association, The American Psychiatric Association, The Beaumont Academy of Medicine, and The Texas Society of Psychiatric Physicians.
A renaissance intellectual, he was knowledgeable in the arts and sciences. He loved life, growing roses and the open seas of the Gulf of Mexico. He captained his boats out of Port Bolivar and at one time had his own shrimping vessel.
Predeceased by his parents; and brother, he is survived by his wife, Joanne Malley Roper; his sister, Alice Myers of Zionsville, Indiana; daughters, Angeline Croft of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Elizabeth Roper of Nashville, Tennessee; and Joanne’s children, Becky and Derik Viator of Port Neches, Johnny and Kristi Conn of Orange, and Debra and Chris Borchardt of Cortlandt Manor, New York; and five grandchildren.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the Salvation Army Shelter, 1407 Pennsylvania, Beaumont, Texas 77701; Tyrrell Park Gardens, 6090 Babe Zaharias Drive, Beaumont, Texas 77705; or to Southeast Texas Food Bank, 3845 South Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway, Beaumont, Texas 77705.
Visitation will be Monday, June 21, 2010, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. A private family service and burial will be Tuesday at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. Pallbearers are Johnny Conn, Derik Viator,Sr., Derik Viator, Jr., Sam Malley, Douglas Sikes, and Daniel Ruiz. Honorary pallbearers are the many Community Psychiatric Center Staff who protected him at the crisis center.
The family would like to thank the numerous medical professionals who provided his care over the years.
