Benoni "Bob" Jopling

Walla Walla, Wash.
Munselle-Rhodes Funeral Home
Benoni "Bob" Jopling, 84, formerly of Milton-Freewater, Oregon died November 24, 2002 at the St. Mary Medical Center in Walla Walla, Washington. Memorial services will be held Tuesday, December 3 at 2:00 p.m. at the First Community Church of God in Milton-Freewater. Officiating will be Pastor Doug Henrichs. Contributions can be made to the Trout Creek Community Church through the Munselle- Rhodes Funeral Home, 902 S. Main St, Milton-Freewater, Oregon 97862.
Mr. Jopling was born February 6, 1918 in Madera, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Benoni and Ferdina Tompkins Jopling. Bob met his wife, Anita Bierwagen in August of 1938 while both of them were working in a hospital. They were married in Winchester, Virginia on August 3, 1939.
During World War II, he served in the United States Navy and received his honorable discharge in 1945. After the service, they moved to the Tri-Cities, Washington area and later to Trout Creek, Montana in 1948. Mr. and Mrs. Jopling were active in farming, logging, insurance work, school and church activities. Bob also was active in the Soil Conservation Service, served as school bus driver for several years, and operated a retail milk route from 1955 to 1959. He was named Montana Tree Farmer of the Year in 1978.
Mr. Jopling's hobbies and interests have included playing in a local dance band to playing on a semi-pro baseball team and golf, boating and traveling. Mr. and Mrs. Jopling have been active in the Trout Creek Community Church since the beginning of the church. He served on the building committee for the new sanctuary. They moved to Milton-Freewater in 1997 and were members of the First Community Church of God. Earlier this year, they moved to Richland, Washington and then to Walla Walla a month ago.
Survivors include his wife at the home, sons and daughters-in-law, Jay and Judy Sprawl Jopling of Florence, Montana and Gene and Karen Jopling of Trout Creek, Montana; sister Virginia Kathryn McMas ter of Richland, Washington; five grandchildren, Brad and Rachel Jopling of the Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan, Preston Jopling of Portland, Oregon and Neal Jopling of Trout Lake, Montana and Natalie Jopling of Missoula, Montana.