B. Kenneth Roper

B. Kenneth Roper
Retired Quincy Christian Life Fellowship Pastor B. Kenneth Roper peacefully passed from this life to his eternal home with the Lord, with his family at his side, Wednesday morning, April 20, 2011 following a long and courageous battle with Parkinson ’s disease.
Born July 9, 1926 to the late Ira and Clarice (Herd) Roper, in Oklahoma City, Okla. he lost his mother at the age of 9, an event that led to a somewhat tumultuous childhood. Ken, as he preferred to be called, left Oklahoma with his brother at age 16 to move west to Richmond, Calif. to work in the shipyards.

At age 17, Ken joined the U.S. Navy and served his country honorably until his discharge in 1950.

Ken obtained his GED while serving in the military and upon his discharge entered the Glad Tidings Bible Institute (later to become Bethany University) in Santa Cruz, Calif., graduating with a bachelor’s degree in theology. He served as the student body president during his sophomore year. Ken was ordained as a minister in the Assemblies of God in February of 1955 and went on to serve congregations in Elk Grove, Sterling City, Covolo, Calif. Tampa, Florida, Philadelphia, Penn. and Quincy, Calif. as well as serving in the Radio Ministry in San Diego and Sacramento, Calif. Ken also served as the Northern California Assemblies of God Vice Director of Youth as well as traveling throughout the United States spreading the voice of Christ as an evangelist.

While evangelizing at a convention for Christian Youth he met the former Ramona York Denna. Brought together by the love of God the couple was united in matrimony in the back yard of Ramona’s daughter’s residence in Corte Madera, Calif. on Aug. 18, 1981.
Ken loved the outdoors, was an avid fisherman, and also enjoyed hunting. His athleticism was shown as a talented gymnast who loved teaching the sport to others as well as boxing in the service and as a champion diver. He found great enjoyment in spreading the word of Christ to the youth and loved working with them at the Mineral Assemblies of God’s Camp.

In passing Ken leaves his loving wife of almost thirty years, Ramona, of Clear Creek, Calif.; sons Kenny Roper, Jr., of Sacramento, Smokey Denna and is wife Karen, of Clear Creek, Mel Denna and his wife Cyndy, of Soldotna, Alaska; daughter Sandra Shafer, of Paradise, Calif.; sisters Jeanne Lundeen, of Oklahoma City, Louise and her husband Gary Means, of Sun City, Ari.; 20 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and 11 great-great-grandchildren.

He joins his three brothers and one sister in their eternal home.

A celebration of Ken’s life will take place 2 p.m. Saturday, May 28, 2011 at the Quincy Christian Life Fellowship. Internment will take place in the Old Quincy Cemetery. Any remembrances in Ken’s memory can be made to the Assemblies of God’s Mission Program c/o Fehrman Mortuary and Crematory, P.O. Box 53, Quincy, CA 95971. An opportunity to express your condolences to the family along with signing the memorial guest register is available online at fehrmanmortuary.com.