Roop, Helen Bishop

Our wonderful Mom and Nana passed away in her beloved home in the early morning hours of May 26th. She was born at home in rural Floyd County on July 17, 1930, the youngest of nine children. She was the last surviving sibling born to Alvis and Mamie Isabelle Bishop.

Her first years of life were marked by the Great Depression and the sudden death of her father at age twelve. Despite such a challenging beginning, strength, fortitude, and a strong work ethic were instilled in her. She began her occupation as a telephone operator shortly after graduating high school. She was employed by C & P Telephone for 28 years and VA Tech for 34 years. She retired from working part-time at VA Tech at age 82. She often commented how she missed work and how lucky she was to have been able to have a job she loved so much.

She met the love of her life while walking to work, our Dad, James Roop. They were married for 58 years. They were a great team, both working hard to provide for us. She balanced work with keeping a spotless home and cooking delicious meals. She loved to mow and asked for a John Deere lawn mower for her 80th birthday.

Mom’s faith was very strong. She was a member of Auburn United Methodist Church for decades. She dearly loved her Sunday School class. She took pleasure in sending cards to those in the community from her class.

Mom was always grateful for simple pleasures like swinging on her porch swing and observing nature around her. She was always a lady. She had a great sense of style and fashion. She loved to “dress up” to go “to town”. In a journal found after her death, she answered a question as to what her most important belief was that guided her life. In her beautiful handwriting, she wrote “Be kind to others”. She also listed her hobbies as “sewing, reading, doll collecting, creating outfits, growing flowers, and working crosswords.” She had many beloved feline companions over the years. All were strays she took in that flourished under her care.

This remarkable woman is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Debbie and Page Warner of Blacksburg, Sherri and Mark Carper of Radford; seven grandchildren, Jared Stilwell, Wes Warner, Shane Warner and wife Jennifer, Tegan Haith and husband Mark, Briana Carper, Moriah Carper, and Tess Carper; five great-grandchildren, Cameron Warner, Andrew and Eliza Warner, Aislynn and Josephine Haith, special nieces Edna Fryer and Delores Wirt and many other nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held Sunday, June 2nd at McCoy Funeral Home, Blacksburg, VA from 3-5 PM. The funeral will be held at Auburn United Methodist Church on June 3rd at 2 PM.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Auburn United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 74, Riner, VA 24149, Riner Volunteer Rescue Squad, P. O. Box 858, Riner, VA. 24149, or Riner Volunteer Fire Department P.O. Box 11, Riner, Virginia 24149.