Samuel Opper

WHEELERSBURG-Samuel Peter Opper, 66, of Wheelersburg, passed away Wednesday, April 12, 2023, at the SOMC Hospice Center. He was born August 16, 1956, in Elmira, NY, a son of the late Michael and Theresa Ann Doran Opper.

Sam retired from HarbisonWalker International where he worked as a ceramic process engineer. He was a longtime member of St. Peter in Chains Catholic Church and was active in the Knights of Columbus and Adoration. Sam loved to tinker and be outside snow skiing, doing yard work or running to prepare for the Senior Olympics Games. He especially enjoyed time spent with his family and reading Sci-Fi books. A 1974 graduate of Thomas Edison High School in Elmira, Sam received at BS in Ceramic Engineering from Alfred University in Alfred, NY.

Surviving Sam is his wife of 41 years, Susan Lynn Payne Opper, whom he married August 1, 1981, in Independence, MO. The couple have two children, Elaine Nicole (Barry Hanson) Opper of Byesville Daniel Ray Opper and Las Cruces, NM.

Also surviving are six brothers, Michael (Mary Ellen) Opper Jr., Patrick (Noreen) Opper, Nicholas (Mary) Opper, Timothy (Mary Lou) Opper, Francis "Frank" (Lisa) Opper and William "Bill" (Bonita) Opper of Endwell, NY; his sister, Margaret "Maggie" Opper Johnescu; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and their families.

In addition to his parents, Sam was also preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Jim Johnescu.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 11 A.M. Thursday, April 27 at St. Peter in Chains Catholic Church. Interment will be held at a later date.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 5 to 8 P.M. at the RALPH F. SCOTT FUNERAL HOME in Portsmouth.

Online condolences may be shared at RalphFScott.com.

Memorial contributions may be made in Samuel's name to the OSU Cancer Immunotherapy Research Fund (Fund #316121) at giveto.OSU.edu or The Ohio State University Foundation, University Square North, 14 E. 15th Ave., Columbus, OH 43201 or the Melanoma Research Foundation at donate.melanoma.org.