Robert L. Roper, Jr. was born on October 10, 1943 in St. Louis, Missouri to Robert and Mary Roper, and passed into the next life on July 18, 2026 at the age of eighty-two. He was predeceased by his parents. A memorial service will be scheduled for a later date.

Bob was a graduate of Dartmouth College, earning a combined Anthropology/Psychology degree in 1965. In 1970, he was awarded a Juris Doctor degree by the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law.

Bob married the love of his life, Ellen, on August 17, 1973 and they spent nearly 53 wonderful years together.

Bob was a member of the Boone County Bar Association, serving as president 1994-1995, the Missouri Bar Association, and the Federal Bar of the Western District Court of Missouri.

After graduating from law school, Bob worked in various capacities in the public sector (public defender, assistant prosecutor, and Columbia City Counselor) and in the private practice of law for twelve years. In 1982, he had an epiphany that he was better suited to a business career than as a practicing lawyer. He thus accepted an offer from Boone County National Bank, now Central Bank of Boone County, to lead its Investment Management and Trust Division. This fateful first step led to a highly successful and deeply satisfying 26.5-year career that ultimately culminated in being the president and CEO of a $5-billion company, Central Trust Company, an affiliate of Central Bancompany.

During his working career and thereafter, Bob was active in efforts to better his community in many ways. He served on the board of directors and as president of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce. He was also honored to receive the Outstanding Citizen of the Year award from the Chamber. He served on the Columbia College Board of Trustees, also serving as chair of the executive committee. He was on the local United Way Board of Directors and was one of the founders of the Central Missouri Community Foundation, also serving on their board of directors. He was a long-time member of the Downtown Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow. After retiring, he worked with the Hagan Foundation to help children with financial needs as well as great promise achieve their dreams of attending college. He was also proud to be a lifelong blood donor, giving blood every 2-3 months for over 50 years. The above is but a sample of his community betterment efforts.

Bob had a special affection for the city of Columbia and was tireless in his efforts to make it a better place. He served on numerous citizens’ committees that successfully urged the passage of worthy bond and tax issues. He served for eight years on the Columbia Water and Light Advisory Board. One of his proudest moments of service to the city was serving as chair of the Public Building and Finance Committee. This committee oversaw the design and construction of the new city hall, a critical improvement for the long term.

Bob was very proud of his service in the U.S. Air Force Reserve from 1967-1973. After his discharge, and for the rest of his life, he felt passionately that service members and veterans deserved the nation’s unflagging honor and respect. Thus, Memorial Day and Veterans Day held special importance to him, and he was a quiet benefactor to wounded servicemember organizations.

He had many other interests in his busy life. He was a voracious reader, a trait acquired early in life. He loved reading great novels, biographies, history and more mundane crime and mystery thrillers. He particularly loved reading about current affairs, be they local, state, national, or international. Because he was so well-informed on various issues, he was for years an occasional columnist of the conservative/libertarian persuasian for the Columbia Daily Tribune. For the same reason, he was a longtime panelist on a radio talk show known as the Sunday Mourning Business Roundtable. In these endeavors, he was proud to always be a voice of civility in the ongoing debates between his views and the dominant liberal views of the Columbia community.

A natural optimist, Bob fully enjoyed life. In the 1960s, he owned a Harley-Davidson “Hog” motorcycle and a Jaguar XK 140 roadster, both 1957 models. He co-owned a “hippy” clothing store, Ladigo of London, Ltd., from 1968 to 1972. He also played the mandolin in a bluegrass band during that era.

Bob was a lifelong music lover, especially classical music (with a special love for J. S. Bach), country, blues, and of course rock and roll. It was (is!) a great way to enjoy life.

Two of Bob’s lifelong passions were fishing and golf, but especially golf! He treasured the times with his great golfing buddies, especially the Dots group and the Doctors group. He was very proud that he finally—finally!—made a hole in one at age 74, after waiting 60 years.

No one loved good jokes and funny stories more than Bob Roper, both as a listener and a teller. He was often called upon to tell jokes to small groups or comedy night fundraisers for charitable organizations.

The most important thing in Bob’s life was his family. He was devoted to his mother, a loving and tender son. He was a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather, and was dearly loved by them. He was particularly adept at influencing them toward the unchanging goal of excellence in all deeds in a determined but loving way. He was so very proud of all of them!

Survivors include his wife Ellen, children Joanna (Mike Perkins) Shear of Santa Clara, California, and Jason (Michelle) Shear of Austin, Texas; grandchildren Evie and Madeleina Shear and Alex and Natalie Perkins; sisters Carol (Richard) Caruthers and Martha (Peter Scales) Roper; one niece Cara Caruthers and two nephews Chad Caruthers and Dane Roper; and three wonderful cousins.

Arrangements are under the direction of Parker-Millard Funeral Service & Crematory, 12 East Ash Street, Columbia, MO 65203 (573) 449-4153. Condolences may be left online for the family at www.millardfamilychapels.com