Memorial Service for Fred Cropp
Saturday, August 19, 2017 - 1:00pm
Memorial Service for Fred Cropp on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017, at 1 p.m. at Scheide Music Hall on The College of Wooster campus with Andries Coetzee of Westminster Presbyterian Church presiding
Frederick William Cropp III of Wooster died Wednesday August 9 in Wooster. He was 84.
Fred’s career was marked by unbridled enthusiasm for teaching, both inside and outside the classroom. He influenced thousands of students at Wooster during more than three decades as a professor, and hundreds during 80
10-day raft trips through the Grand Canyon that he organized and led. All told, he spent more than two years of his life sleeping under the stars in the
Canyon. For Fred, “see you down the river” was a common farewell.
Fred was born on December 9, 1932, in Wheeling, W.V. to Frederick William Cropp Jr. and Ruth Perkins Cropp. He graduated from The College of Wooster in 1954 and earned his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois in 1958. He taught initially at Illinois before returning to The College of Wooster as a professor in 1964. He taught geology for 34 years, retiring in 1997. He also served as Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Wooster from 1968-77.
Fred was married to Helen Townsend Cropp from 1955 until her death in 1972 and Marian Taylor Belmont-Cropp from 1973-91.
He is survived by his brother Robert; his children Fritz Cropp (Mari), Julie Cropp Mason (Michael), Lauren Kiesel (Jeff), Michael Belmont (Jennifer),
Carol Cropp (Jeff Wilson), Allyson Wells (Rich), Jennifer Hansen (David), Tom Cropp (Ellen); 16 grandchildren and one great grandchild.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to The F.W. Cropp III Endowed Fund for Independent Field Work in Geology at The
College of Wooster at Office of Development, The College of Wooster, 1189 Beall Avenue, Wooster, OH 44691.
Gifts may also be made online through the College’s website at www.wooster.edu/give.
Online tributes may be made at www.RobertsFuneralHome.com.
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