Obituary

Christiaan Dale "Jim" Roper, 83, a native of Halstead who gained fame as the winner of the first NASCAR stock car race, died Friday, June 23, 2000 at Friendly Acres Retirement community in Newton.

The son of Christian and Eula Dell (Hunt) Roper, Jr., he was born August 13, 1916 at Halstead. He graduated from Halstead High School and during World War II he operated the Roper Commuter Bus Line carrying aircraft workers to Wichita from communities such as Halstead, Sedgwick and Valley Center.

He married Ruth Haury in 1940 at Gravette Arkansas. She died February 11, 1944.

Survivors include three nephews, Jeff Roper, Salina, Donald Haury, Jr., Halstead and Rick Haury, Wamego; three nieces, Ruth Alexander, Monica Flask and Kris Mueller, all of Halstead. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth and their infant son, Gary Allen Roper in 1944 and by an infant from a later marriage in 1955., as well as by his brother, Robert Roper in 1999.

Graveside services were held June 27, at Halstead Cemetery.