Larry Frank "Rock" Popp

Larry Frank Popp "ROCK", 82, of El Campo, passed away November 8, 2025. He was born on July 23, 1943, in El Campo. Larry was a cowboy, farmer, county foreman, rancher and cattleman. First and Foremost, he being the IDEAL Husband, Dad, Granddad, Son, Brother, and Friend. To know him was to LOVE him and quickly acknowledge his "GOOD COWBOY" genuine qualities and authentic character as a LEADER, HERO, and LEGEND.
Larry was the baby boy of the family and learned early on from his father how to be a protector and provider for the family. He grew up in Nada in the family-built wood frame house (in the exact same spot where it stands today) instilled with the bond of strong family values and charitable virtues all the while combing the Colorado County countryside with his dad tracking and hunting the Colorado river bottom for wild game, fish, even turtle, to bring back home to his mom to prepare for supper. It's been stated many times that by the time his mom got all the fixings done – she could make anything from squirrel to rabbit taste like ribeye steak.
Larry attended St. Mary's Catholic School from 1st to 8th grade, where church nuns lived on site administering the facility and teaching the classes. He walked to school with his two sisters every day, during mass time serving as an altar boy, holding the proud role of church bell ringer (where swinging on the bell ropes was the greatest fun!)
Larry attended Garwood High School lettering as a Garwood Gar in FFA, Track, and Football. He began part-time cowboy work on ranches in the area, among them being Cedar Post Ranch, while still in high school and helped support the family. He loved the cowboy life of hard work, horses, and helping others. He was Rock Hard strong, so wise, and tough as nails. "If ever in need, you could call on ROCK to save the day!" He grew in wisdom and ingenuity leading many projects and tasks, conquering challenges, where his God-given talents and skills were optimized and shone brightly not to mention paired with his great strength, will, and might, thereby stated as being legendary and having no equal!
He married the Love of his life, Sandra Sue Stock on July 22nd, 1967, in the event of the season held at St. Mary's Church in Nada, Texas with Father E.J. Bily officiating the two-day joyous traditional affair. Larry continued ranching then merging into successfully farming rice (manually shoveling levees for miles and miles from sun-up to sun-down wearing out many a shovel), then corn, cotton, and soybeans also. He held the title of Arm-Wrestling Champion in three counties, member of NRA, and Ducks Unlimited. He served as Wharton County Precinct 4 Foreman for over 13 years. Larry had a special gift for connecting with and engaging people, diplomatic seeking harmony and resolution for all. He had an incredible sense of humor, quick wit, and inherent problem-solving ability. He was warm, welcoming, practicing what he preached, and a man of few words but a man of his word, saying what he meant and meaning what he said. Larry was an avid marksman and hunter, loving and looking forward to the yearly hunting seasons: deer, duck, goose, dove, and quail. He adored hunting trips, cherished living off the land, and spent much time which he dearly loved at the Bar Z Ranch in South Texas. He had many specially trained horses and hunting dogs. He was quite gifted working with animals-- it's like they could sense his goodness, purity, capabilities, and his care for them. He raised and trained English Pointers and guided entertaining and textbook quail hunts with as many as eight pups all on a single point at the same time! His work ethic was impeccable, inherently loving raw unfiltered hard work, the kind of chore and challenge that requires grit, persistence, and purpose for which he knew no quit until the job was done and done right. He spread goodwill, aspired and strived to make people, situations, and the world a better place. His kindness, honesty, integrity and loyalty were immense, are to be emulated, and will never be forgotten. One thing is for sure, if you were with "THE ROCK", you were safe, protected, and appreciated. None, this world over could be so LUCKY and BLESSED as those held in his care.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Sandra Popp of El Campo; daughters, Colette Popp, Colleen Popp McLean (Chuck), Kelly Lea Popp Drewett (Michael); grandson William Quinn Popp McManus; Mother, Adela Wied Popp of Nada; sisters, Joyce Marie Hajovsky of El Campo and Virginia Ann Zboril of Taiton.
Larry was preceded in death by his father, Otto Popp; brothers-in-law, Harry Zboril and C.J. Hajovsky; nephew, Charles Hajovsky and his beloved great-uncles and aunts and cousins.
Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. on Friday, November 14 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Nada with Rosary recited at 1:30 p.m. The funeral Mass will begin at 2 p.m. with burial following at St. Mary's Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Russell Zboril, Reid Zboril, Chris Hajovsky, Jimmy Kainer, Lester Priesmeyer, Shawn Cerny, Brent Herzik and Bert Staff. Honorary pallbearers will be David Stock, Jere Jones, Curry Cerny, Jay Grahman, Doug Ondrias, James Sedlock, John Sedlock, Robert Blume, John Halamicek, Alan Halamicek, Cody Kahanek and Gary "Bodock" Cranek.