Yesterday I lost a great friend…
George Roper was an outstanding person, a caring person and he wasn’t afraid to help anyone that needed it. On Tuesday, November 26th George lost his 2nd battle with cancer.
He beat lung cancer a while back but leukemia finally did him in.
George and I talked on the phone and on line, we have talked about every topic imaginable, nothing was sacred and nothing was off limits, but we reserved our best talks for the topic of politics and what we face today. Sadly, we knew what we faced but had no workable solutions to offer, but we sure had a lot to say about it.
George was a brilliant man, a great counselor and one hell of a blogger.
My youngest daughter and my step-daughter were getting into the counseling profession and drug rehab, they had recently opened a clinic where they live. George didn’t know my girls personally but he let them know that if there was anything he could do to help, any advice or suggestions, he was going to be there for them. That is the good guy I knew!
I am sure that many of you knew, George had a playful, humorous side too.
A while back we wanted and needed an outlet to blow off steam other than our main blogs. We needed a place to *let our hair down*, what there was of it anyway. We came up with a BS Blog that was just for fun and we called it *Cranky Old Bastards* … it wasn’t something we put a lot of work into; it was a team effort between George, myself and a couple of other COBs (Cranky Old Bastards) we knew. It eventually went by the wayside as we got refocused and got back to some serious blogging but the COBs were pretty good and we laid out some serious information that only OLD guys would have known.
George Roper was an inspiration to me in many ways and he was a great teacher.
We did some Internet Radio together a few years ago and he inspired me to create a character that we called *Bubba*.
Bubba was an ignorant redneck car mechanic from Pauls Valley, Oklahoma and was prone to say ANYTHING, and usually did. George would *council* Bubba on the air and try to analyze him in an effort to get Bubba into the *REAL* world. It never happened. But we had a blast doing the GM and Bubba thing too.
George was a professional counselor, he was a therapist; he and Bubba had a running joke that his sign or business cards were going to be misprinted one day and some clown would turn therapist into the rapist, which was how Ol’ Bubba saw it and pronounced it, and that just wasn’t going to be good for George and his reputation. Bubba was always concerned about the reputation of his friend George.
Yes, I AM going to miss George Roper and the best way I can honor him is by writing this piece and telling a bit of the story of our little adventures.
Rest in Peace my friend, we didn’t always agree on every point but we always respected each other greatly.
Ya Cranky Old Bastard! You WILL be missed.
My condolences to his family; it’s always difficult when you lose a good friend.
All we can do is: keep on keeping on.
BZ
And that is exactly what George would want… A remembrance would be fine but no boo-hoo and crap…
My sincere condolences, Fred. I know the pain of losing a good friend.
Thank you Ron, he was a good friend… You would have really liked him too…
My condolences to his family and you Fred. I lost several friends this year. They live on in my heart as I’m sure George will in yours.
Thank you Wayne…
George was a great person and friend…he will be missed. RIP my friend..
Yes indeed…
Bummer!
Until now, Fred, I didn’t realize that you knew George!
I spoke with George once on the phone a few years back. He offered good advice to me — advice as to how to deal with my depression following Mr. AOW’s stroke in 2009.
And, of course, I knew George as a fellow blogger, whom I met on the web on the recommendation of my good friend Mustang.
George was one of the good guys.
This Thanksgiving and this Christmas will be tough for his family. I will keep them in my prayers.
Yes Ma’am, I knew George and dearly loved him… He will be missed..
I am sorry to hear of his passing.
Thank you Alan, he was a person that you would have thoroughly enjoyed visiting with..
I never met George personally, but he was a friend to a friend and somehow, we started communicating about blogging and such. It was George that introduced me to blogging back in 2004 and I’ve been more or less steady at it ever since. I share you opinion about George; a fine American. My deepest sympathies to his family, who I know are grieving mightily. May God bless them all at this moment of great sorrow.
Semper Fi, George …
Thank you for stopping by Mustang, it is greatly appreciated!
Damn,
Sometimes reading blogs can be heart breaking. Finding out here that George passed is tough.
I’ll miss him as well, Fred. I truly enjoyed our conversations on FB, and even bashing his liberal son-in-law on occasion; all with George’s approval, of course.
Condolences to you, bud.
A perfect memorial to George.
I only chatted with him on Facebook, and dropped by his blog when I had time. He had a wicked sense of humor and knew how to use it.
He will be missed.
Condolences to his family and you. May G~d all who miss him
Fred, I have out-lived my two best friends in my life. Men who were there for me through thick and thin and would listen to me no matter if our views were opposing and after our talk we still respected and loved each other because we were FRIENDS! My prayes are with George and his family. but also for you for I truly know your heartache.
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. My thoughts and prayers will be with you and his family.
I didn’t know George, but I know what it’s like to lose someone you care about. Remember him well by continuing the work you do here. My prayers and thoughts are with you and with his family.
Sorry to hear of your loss.
Sorry for the loss of your friend Fred.He sounds like was a great person.
Fred,
Here is his obituary.
Um, never mind. I see that you’ve signed the online guest book.
George will be missed by many of us. Rest in peace friend.