Mr. Carlton J. Roper, 78, of Stillwood Drive, Hartwell, passed away Sunday, December 10, 2017, at AnMed Health Medical Center, Anderson SC.

Born on March 21, 1939 in Hartwell Georgia, he was the son of the late Rainey Roper and Henrietta Walters Roper.Carlton graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology where he became a "Rambling Wreck from Georgia Tech and a hell of an Engineer." He worked as a cooperative student throughout his college days with Georgia Power, and after working and going to college, he received his Bachelor's Degree from Georgia Tech in Industrial Engineering. Carlton loved to build, and he inherited this trait from his father Rainey Roper, who was a carpenter in Hartwell, Georgia, constructing the now standing Hart County Courthouse. Carlton took his love for building with his college degree and built many textile plants across the Southeastern United States. He worked for corporate giants RJR Tobacco Company, Winston Salem, North Carolina, Dow Chemical, Anderson, South Carolina, and Russell Athletics, Opelika, Alabama. He worked for Robert and Company Engineers in Atlanta, Georgia as well as other engineering firms for a number of years constructing many buildings around the Atlanta area and many can still be seen along the I-85 and 285 corridors. Carlton went back to school and obtained his Professional Engineering license receiving his designation as P.E., professional engineer.As the textile industry faded in the United States, Carlton used his P.E. specialty and adjusted his building skills to master the construction of computerized inventory warehouses. He worked for the St. Onge Engineering firm in York, Pennsylvania, where he became a partner, and his profession took him all over the world building plants in Mexico, Japan, South America, Ireland, the United Kingdom and Germany. Later in his engineering career, he incorporated C.J. Roper and Associates, Inc., where he continued his trade, and he also taught engineering students as a special guest at Clemson University until his retirement. Following retirement, Carlton became deputized and worked at the Hart County Sheriff's department as a bailiff at the same Hart County Courthouse constructed by his father until his illness.

He was a member of Gideons International, Hart County Camp, a Georgia Tech alumni, and a member of the Professional Engineer's Association. Carlton was also a member of the Sardis Baptist Church, former Deacon, Sunday school teacher, choir member and had served on the building committee.

After his college graduation, Carlton returned home asking first love Ruth Skelton Roper of Hartwell Georgia, to marry him. He and Ruth had one son Christopher Todd Roper. Cartlon selflessly and unconditionally loved his family and gave them all he had to give as a father and husband. As a husband, he always provided a home, but made sure Ruth had all she needed and would always remember those special moments in the marriage and surprise her with gifts. Ruth and Carlton had a lifetime of travel and memories that kept their marriage strong for 47 years until Ruth passed after a battle with cancer the second time. As a father, he taught discipline, education, humility and hard work often saying "Do it right the first time." His son played football for the legendary "Paul Bear Bryant" at the University of Alabama, lettering all four years, and receiving a degree in Commerce and Business Administration. Following his football career, his son went to law school and obtained a Juris Doctor degree at Cumberland School of Law, Birmingham, Alabama. His son became licensed to practice law in Georgia, Alabama and North Carolina and has practiced law in North Carolina for 27 years.

After Ruth passed away, Carlton found love again, marrying his middle school sweetheart Carlene Hayes Milford Roper. This couple truly loved each other's company and would always be seen together around Hartwell. They loved each other and their church often traveling to Carlton's Gideon testimonials. They were best friends and showed their love for one another until Carlton's passing.

Carlton dearly loved his grandchildren Taylor Nicole Roper, Payton Victoria Roper and Kelsey Alyece Roper. He and Ruth would often travel to North Carolina to visit them, and by the same token, the grandchildren would visit their granddaddy and "Mama Ruth" wherever they lived because of Carlton's work. Spoiling grandchildren was the norm which resulted in trips to fairs, amusement parks, aquariums, beaches and mountain cabins, attending the grandchildren's athletic events, you name it. The holidays were always special with the joy of love and family just being together. After Ruth's death, Carlton continued his visits with his grandchildren, and then when Carlene came aboard, she became part of those visits until Carlton's illness prohibited travel. The grandchildren will always remember their "Papa Roper and Mama Ruth", because of their true interest in their lives and their grandparent's love for them.

Carlton's survivors include his wife: Carlene Hayes Milford Roper; his son: Christopher Todd Roper and his wife Kimberly Lemons Roper of Siler City, North Carolina; three grandchildren Taylor Nicole Roper, Nashville, Tennessee, Payton Victoria Roper, Raleigh North Carolina, and Kelsey Alyece Roper, Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Carlton was preceded in death by his first wife: Ruth Skelton Roper.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, December 12, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at the Sardis Baptist Church with Rev. John Silver officiating.Burial will be in the Nancy Hart Memorial Park.

The body is at the Strickland Funeral Home of Hartwell.The family will receive friends from 12 noon to 2:00 p.m. at the Sardis Baptist Church prior to the service.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Sardis Baptist Church, 4359 Anderson Hwy, Hartwell GA 30643 or to the Gideons International, Hart County Camp, PO Box 59, Hartwell GA 30643.

The Strickland Funeral Home of Hartwell is in charge of all arrangements.