Sarah Beaty Ropp of Raeford died Monday, August 7, in her home, at the age of 96.
She was born on June 5, 1927 in Lancaster, to the late Reverend Walter Kirkpatrick Beaty and Sarah Wilson Beaty.
She grew up in Mt. Holly. During her senior year of high school, she moved with her family to Columbia, South Carolina, where her father became pastor of Arsenal Hill Presbyterian Church.
She graduated from Dreher High School in 1944. She graduated from Erskine College in Due West, South Carolina in 1948, having majored in Bible and Social Studies and serving as President of Women's Student Government her senior year.
She married John Ropp in June of that same year. They lived in Columbia until 1957 when he was called into the ministry and they moved with their four children to Atlanta where he attended Columbia Theological Seminary. She served as President of the Seminary Wives' Club during her husband's senior year.
As Dr. Ropp served pastorates in Iva and Conway, South Carolina and in Raeford, she served as a teacher and school librarian. She retired in 1989 as librarian at Hoke County High School in Raeford.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, the Reverend Doctor John Conway Ropp, her daughter, Sarah Cecelia Ropp, her granddaughter, Elizabeth Cashwell McNeill, and her brothers, Walter K. Beaty, Jr., and James Wilson Beaty.
She is survived by her children: John Conway Ropp, Jr. and his wife Linda of Columbia, South Carolina; Robert Beaty Ropp and his wife Kathy of Conway, South Carolina; and Miriam Ropp McNeill and her husband, Neal of Raeford; grandchildren: Sarah Ropp Cathcart and her husband Robert of Hickory Tavern, South Carolina; John Conway Ropp III, and his wife Caroline of Hartsville, South Carolina; Emily Ropp Terry and her husband Joe of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina; and Katharine Beaty McNeill of Raeford; great-grandchildren: Robert Cathcart III and his wife, Campbell, Sarah Anna "Sally", Margaret, and Charlie Cathcart; Elizabeth, John IV, David, Mari Grace, and Sarah Catherine Ropp; and Anna, Joseph III, and Will Terry; and a sister-in-law, Anita Law Beaty of Charleston, South Carolina.
A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 12 at Raeford Cemetery with Dr. Robert D. Cathcart Jr. and Dr. R. Shane Owens officiating.
Visitation will take place at the cemetery immediately following the service. The family wishes to thank Liberty Hospice for their kindness and excellent care.
Memorials may be made to Raeford Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 1570, 128 W. Edinborough Avenue, Raeford, N.C. 28376.