Fern Marie Ropp

URBANA – Fern Marie (Smith) Ropp, 91, joined the heavenly chorus on March 3, 2025. Born on Dec. 22, 1933 in Springfield, Ohio, to Harry and Irene (Walker) Smith, Fern lived life to the fullest with her family and friends.

After receiving her first guitar as a child one Christmas and progressing in skill throughout high school, Fern played the guitar and sang with her father and his band on WJEL in Springfield and on stage at fairs and other venues in parts of the Midwest and the South. Throughout the decades, she would be found on stages, porches and decks making music and memories with her family and friends. She last "took the stage" at her 90th birthday party in 2023. Her other hobbies included crafting, sewing, reading, being outdoors, playing cards and gifting her homemade cheesecakes.

Being the oldest of 13 children, raising four children of her own and having multiple grandchildren, Fern served faithfully as her family's matriarch, organizing family affairs and functions, sharing family stories, offering guidance when needed, and sharing love unconditionally.

Fern married Robert Ropp on Sept. 18, 1950, and together they raised their four children near Terre Haute. Throughout the years, they enjoyed hosting family gatherings and friends at their home, and at their weekend getaway in Chippewa Park at Indian Lake which featured peaceful boat rides. After all of her children graduated high school, and she worked for several years at Grimes Aerospace where she retired.

She is survived by her daughter, Deborah (William) Watson; sons, R. Michael (Connie) Ropp, David Wayne (Karen) Ropp; grandchildren, Todd (Teresa) Ropp, Shawn Massie, Amber (Tim) Whitherspoon, Chris (Jason) Girard, Tara (Rick) Jordan, Shonda (Shawn) Hoops, Derrick (Jamie) Fetz, Elaine Watson, Jana (David) Driscoll, David Jr. (Crystal) Ropp, Deron Fetz; 10 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, many of her siblings, siblings-in-law and several nieces and nephews.

Fern is preceded in death by Bob, her husband of 56 years, her daughter, Sheila Fetz and five siblings.

A gathering of family and friends will be held from 11 a.m. -1 p.m. on Saturday, March 8, 2025 in VERNON FUNERAL HOME, Urbana, Ohio.

Funeral service will follow at 1 p.m. in the funeral home with the Rev. Derrick Fetz officiating.

Burial will follow at Grandview Cemetery, Urbana.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Urbana Cancer Center Fund through the Mercy Foundation.