Virgil “Uncle Virg” Benard Ropp, 61, of Blackwell, Oklahoma passed away Friday, April 30, 2010 at Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center.  He was born April 20, 1949 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma to Walter and Anna Pauline (Peters) Ropp, Jr.

Memorial Services will be Friday, May 7, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. in the Blackwell Funeral Home Chapel with his brother Rev. Lebron “Tuney” Ropp of Hillside Baptist Church in McCloud, Oklahoma officiating.  Arrangements are under the direction of the Blackwell Funeral Home, Blackwell, Oklahoma.

Virgil grew up in Dewey, Bartlesville, Deer Creek and the Blackwell area; graduating from the Deer Creek School where he was the Quarterback/Assistant for the football team, #23.

He hauled hay for local farmers when he got out of the service then ran a mechanics shop for a while; worked for Tonkawa Tank Services, Boeing Aircraft, MSR Welding, Inventor of Horizontal drilling tool, Darling Drilling, Shebester Bechtel drilling and Piedra Drilling.  He also owned and operated the “Vets” tavern for a while.

Virgil served in the U. S. Navy during the Vietnam era from 1967 through 1973.

He loved his friends and was a God blessed fisherman.  He could do anything he set his mind to and was truly brilliant when it came to engineering things.

Survivors include his children Rowdy Ropp and his fiancé, Charlotte C. Pemberton, Tonya Linton and husband, John, Tracy Vannatta and wife, Heidi, and Tina Vannatta; brothers, Herbert L. Ropp and wife, Peggy, Barton W. Ropp and wife, Janice, Rev. Lebron “Tuney” S. Ropp and wife, Sharon, Mamie A Shaw and husband, George; a sister in law, Janice Ropp; ten grandchildren; one great grandchild; numerous nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Buford W. Ropp.

Memorials may be made to the Blackwell Funeral Home  in care of the Blackwell Funeral Home, 301 West Blackwell, Blackwell, Oklahoma 74631.  Condolences may be sent to the family using our online guest book at www.blackwellfh.com