Robert Jack Propp's Obituary
Robert Jack Propp, longtime resident of Fort Myers, Florida, passed away January 28, 2018, in Fort Myers, Florida. He was born January 30, 1928 in Woodston, Kansas, son of the late Harry H. Propp and Nellie Pearl (Buttermore) Propp.He always had a love for radio and electronics starting in high school. He ran the movie projector at the local movie house in Marion, Kansas. At the age of 15, his love for aviation started as he learned to fly an airplane in a local cow pasture. He graduated from Metro-politan in LA and worked for a tool company. He was drafted in 1946 and served in the army, where in 1950 he was 1st Sergeant, Signal Corps, Alaska Communication Systems stationed in Juneau, Alaska, operating UHF new radios in the transmission station. On September 12, 1954 he married his wife, Mary Lou (Jay) Propp; they were married by his uncle Rev. Vernie Buttemore in Wichita, Kansas. After leaving the army, Robert began a trucking company in Marion, Kansas, where they traveled the United States working on bridges, dams and highways. They came to Florida in October of 1957 and operated Bayshore Trucking and worked on many major highways built in Lee, Charlotte and Collier Counties, which included hauling road materials for the building of Alligator Alley. In 1960, with his love and knowledge for radio, he acquired his Amateur Radio License and served as a Chairman on the Board for the local FM/AM Radio Club. In 1960 after Hurricane Donna hit Fort Myers, he had the ONLY plane flyable in SW Florida due to the fact that he left his plane outside tied down to 3 loaded dump trucks. In 1966 he was appointed to the Committee for Road Aggregate and Haulers in Tallahassee where he represented the Southwest Florida trucking industry. In 1970 he retired from the trucking business and went to work for Producers Fertilizer as Plant Manager, where he worked until he retired in 1992. However, retirement was short lived, and, with his green thumb and love for plants, in 1992 he went to work for McGregor Baptist Church as Building and Grounds Operations Supervisor until 2004. He was also instrumental to and worked on the New Building Committee and Campus Development Committee. He was a Sunday School Director at McGregor Baptist Church. He always wanted an old time park, so he started a nursery under the trees at his home on Winkler Road, and then it spread to the church, where he orchestrated the Family and Friends Day and planted trees.He is survived by his wife, Mary Lou Propp, his brothers, Charles Frederick and James Richard (Peg) and is predeceased by his sister, Bettie Lou (Propp) Siebel, many nieces and nephews and great-nephews and great-niece. His love for collecting old cars, driving fast, flying airplanes and being a ham radio operator are a large part of the many memories shared by his friends and family.He was a member of the Mason 32⁰ and McGregor Baptist ChurchIn lieu of flowers contributions in Robert’s name may be made to: Whisper Mountain Ministries 2240 Long Creek Road Robbinsville NC 28771McGregor Baptist Church; Missions 3750 Colonial Blvd. Ft Myers FL 33966
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