Obituary

John William 'Bill' Soper Jr.

John William "Bill" Soper Jr., 75, former mechanic and service manager for Bulger Cadillac and Oldsmobile, died Wednesday (Jan. 27, 1999) at Newton Medical Center. He was born March 26, 1923, in Florence to John William and Mabel (Culp) Soper. He married Cleta Vae Mercer June 6, 1945, in Marion. She preceded him in death June 9, 1986. He was a member of 40 and 8 (Voiture 1518), a group within the American Legion, Wayne G. Austin Post No. 2 in Newton where he also waS past commander. He also was a member of the Newton Masonic Lodge No. 142 AF and AM. He was a U.S. Navy veteran serving during World War II. He enjoyed camping, fishing and playing golf. In recent years he also took up a hobby of sewing machine crafts and quilting. Survivors include: two sons, Dr. Barlow Soper of Ruston, La., and Tom Soper of Ottawa; companion, Ceone Wrench of El Dorado; two brothers, Jerry Soper of Pine, Ariz., and Ed Soper of Lufkin, Texas; two sisters, Doris Schultz of Sequin, Wash., and Dorothy Gentry of Hemphill, Texas; and one grandchild. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Homestead Cemetery in rural Clements. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at Broadway Colonial Funeral Home. Memorials have been established with 40 and 8 Nurses Scholarship Fund of American Legion or National Kidney Foundation in care of the funeral home.