Donald Wayne Roper

Donald Wayne Roper, known by most as Roper, (but also Don or Donald), passed away at his home on Sunday, June 1, 2025, at age 86. For many years, he had fought congestive heart failure and then cancer at the end.

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 6, 2025, at the Pavilion in Faulkenberry Cemetery, with Pastor D. Snow of the Shiloh Baptist Church officiating, and honors by the Austin Police Department.

Pallbearers and Honorary Pallbearers will be the Austin Police Honor Guard and Lynn W. Ladd, Ronnie Pettigrew, Kendall Funderburk, Johnny Huskey and Sal Ruacho.

Donald was born June 6, 1938, in Fort Worth. His parents were John Wayne Roper and Mable Ladd Roper and he was the only child. Don attended many different schools while his Dad operated a mobile skating rink, moving from town to town in Oklahoma and Texas, including some time in Shamrock, TX. He graduated from La Grange High School where he had played football.

Don enlisted in the U. S. Army after high school, serving from 1957 through his final service in the Army Reserves in 1964, and was a Sergeant at the time of his Honorable Discharge. Don worked for the railroad until he began his career as a police officer.

In 1960, Don entered the Austin Police Academy, 23rd. Class. During his career, he worked in burglary, auto theft, and primarily in narcotics and drug enforcement, where he wore his hair long and dressed “the part” while working undercover. Although dangerous work, he always said he really liked “kicking in doors.” He received an Accommodation from the State of Texas from his service in busting narcotics rings. He was a member of the Texas Narcotic Officers Association and the U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). He retired in 1988 and proudly kept his badge and the first pistol issued to him by the Austin PD for the rest of his life.

He met future wife, Jan, who was managing apartments in Austin, and after many years, Roper and Jan were united in marriage on August 20, 1991, in Las Vegas, Nevada. They made their home in La Grange until moving to Lake Limestone. Roper had always enjoyed hunting and fishing all his life, and at the lake, he continued his love of fishing, being out on their boat, and drinking beer. Roper and Jan also enjoyed trips to Louisiana to the casino, and coming home with a profit.

Donald was preceded in death by his father in 1990 and his mother in 2000, and aunts and uncles.

He is survived by his wife, Jan Roper of Groesbeck; daughters and sons-in-law, Melanie and Craig Prause of La Grange, Vicki and Gary Tate of La Grange, Jennifer and Richard Hughbank of Killeen, and Kara Roper of Florida; 4 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren; 3 step children, Troy, Michelle and Dawn and 2 step grandchildren. He has many cousins (over 28 first cousins) whom he loved dearly. And he will be greatly missed by his fur baby, Sadie.

The family would like to thank Dr. Brian Barnett with Waco Cardiology for giving Don several more years with us.  We'd also like to thank Providence Hospice, specifically, Leah and Carolyn who took such good care.