William Douglas Roper

William Douglas "Doug" Roper, 68, of Poquoson passed away on September 29, 2024 after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. Doug was a loving father, husband, brother, and son and is known and loved by many as "Coach Roper" after a 40-year teaching and coaching career in York County. He will forever be remembered as a mentor who had a positive impact on many lives in this community.

Doug was born and raised in Newport News and graduated from Ferguson High School in 1974. He wrestled and played football at Ferguson and wrestled at Elon College where he graduated in 1978. He started his teaching and coaching career at Tabb High School in 1978, and then spent 3 years at Bruton High School, before returning to Tabb. Doug taught World Geography and World History during his 40 years of teaching. He took great pride in mentoring 9th grade students and went to great lengths to make his classes memorable, including dressing up as different historical figures. Doug was extremely honored and humbled to be named Tabb High and York County Teacher of the Year in 2014.

After several years as an assistant coach, Doug was named Head Wrestling Coach at Tabb in 1983 and remained the Head Coach until his retirement in 2018. He was inducted into the VA Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2016. Doug also coached football early in his career and softball in the 1990s and early 2000s. He had a passion for sports and even extended his love for coaching beyond Tabb High School. He helped shape youth into better athletes through Poquoson Little League Softball, Surge Travel Softball, PWA and the youth wrestling program. Doug's dedication did not go unnoticed, as he was given the honor of "Coach of the Year" four times for his career in both wrestling and softball and the Peninsula Sports Club Milestone Award.

Outside the classroom and off the field, Doug was an avid fisherman who loved being in and around the water. He was a longtime member of the Peninsula Saltwater Sports Fisherman Association, where he served as president and received the George C. Roberston Memorial Award for Service. He had a love for traveling and seeing all parts of the world and took pride in learning from other cultures and sharing his experiences. Locally, he enjoyed traveling to the beach and Massanutten with family. Whether he was at a sporting event or a family function, Doug likely had a camera in his hand. He loved photography and prided himself on providing pictures of Tabb athletes who achieved high honors for the Champion Picture Wall and creating memory posters for his former athletes.

Doug will be dearly missed by his wife of 39 years, Beth Roper, daughters Kathryn Riggins (Michael) and Julie Fairbanks (Brad) and grandchildren Liam and Peyton Fairbanks, sisters Nancy Setty, Margie Donald and Diane Merryman (Daryl) and brother Henry Roper (Janet) and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents Henry and Margaret Roper and sisters Patricia Overman and Sylvia Custer.

The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to the staff at Dominion Village of Poquoson for the care provided to Doug during the later stages of his illness.

A Celebration of Life will be held in the auditorium at Tabb High School on Saturday, October 26 at 3 p.m. A reception will follow in the commons area where friends, family, students and colleagues are encouraged to share stories and reminisce.