Kenneth E. Ropp

COLUMBUS, MS Kenneth Edward Ropp, 94, died November 24, 2011 in Columbus, Mississippi. He was preceded in death by parents Kenneth and Lillian Ropp of York; and daughter, Jeanne Ropp Ahlberg of Magee, MS. He is survived by his wife Nell Coleman Ropp; sister, Helen Ropp Leiphart; daughter, Ann Ropp Eagerton; grandchildren, Neil Eagerton, Edward Eagerton, David Eagerton, Jeanne E. Cooper, Daniel Ahlberg, Michael Ahlberg; and great-grandchildren Carleigh Cooper and Flint Ahlberg. Originally from York, Kenneth, was an old time aviator with over 33,000 hours of flight hours. As a boy he would pedal his bicycle out to the York airport, learned mechanics which he traded for flight instruction. He worked at Taylor Aircraft in Bradford, became a flight instructor in Akron, Ohio and joined Pennsylvania Central Airlines (later Capital Airlines) in February 1941. Two years later he checked out as Captain. He was first based in Detroit and later Washington, D.C. During WWII, he flew with the Air Transport Command, flying supplies to Army bases from Alaska to Florida with all points in between. He met and married his wife Nell while they lived and worked in Washington, D.C., Nell being an airline hostess with the airline. During his long career with Capital Airlines (later merged with United Airlines), commercially he flew: the Boeing 247, the DC-3,the Viscount, the Caravelle, the Boeing 727, the Boeing 727 Stretch, the DC-8, the DC-8 Stretch, and the Boeing 747. From Washington, DC, Kenneth was based in New Orleans, Miami, and ended his career with United Airlines, flying the 747s out of Chicago. During his illustrious aviation career stretching from bi-planes to 747s, he was never involved in any aircraft mishap or accident. He and his wife retired to Columbus, MS in 1979 where he owned and operated his own FBO for six years. A private family service will be held at a later date. Friends may leave online condolences at www.calvertfuneralhome.com