To request a copy of this photo for your own personal use, please contact our state coordinator. If you are not a family member or the original photographer — please refrain from copying or distributing this photo to other websites.
Thank you for visiting the Missouri Gravestone Photo Project. On this site you can upload gravestone photos, locate ancestors and perform genealogy research. If you have a relative buried in Missouri, we encourage you to upload a digital image using our Submit a Photo page. Contributing to this genealogy archive helps family historians and genealogy researchers locate their relatives and complete their family tree.
Submitted: 3/31/16 • Approved: 3/31/16 • Last Updated: 3/28/18 • R789762-G0-S3
US Air Force
World War II
1911 - 2013
Richard "Dick" L. Sloop, passed away peacefully surrounded by family members at the age of 101 on Monday, April 8, 2013 after his health deteriorated from a recent fall fracturing of his hip at home. Always active, he lived life to the fullest with a song in his heart and a smile on his face going into his 102nd year!
Born in Queen City, Missouri on September 28, 1911. Graduated from Queen City High School in 1929 and the University of Missouri, Columbia in 1934 where he was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. He was proud that he and his fellow fraternity brothers were able to keep the house financially solvent during the depression when others could not. He was very active in athletics particularly swimming, springboard diving and pole vaulting – he boasted that he was able to vault over 11 feet with a simple bamboo pole (which was a pretty good feat back then).
Upon graduation from the University of Missouri went to work for Fisher Body, a division of General Motors, at the Leeds Assembly plant in Kansas City and was extremely grateful to find work. He spent his entire career working for General Motors as an accountant from 1935 until his retirement in 1971 with the exception of his service being interrupted during World War II when he was drafted into the US Army. Because of his older age, being 31 when inducted into the army, his fellow cadre of soldiers called him "Pops." He served in the army from 1942 to 1945 and was assigned to the 9th Air Force which was involved in the European Theater with allied forces that liberated France and defeated Germany. He was with the 9th when it transferred to England in October, 1943 and participated in Normandy invasion and the rest of the European continent until the VE-Day. He always said he served with the very best that America had to offer – and his assessment of war as being a terrible waste of resources and human life. For his service during the invasion of Europe, he and his unit were awarded the presidential meritorious unit commendation.
Upon retiring from GM, became the city clerk and councilman of Countryside, Kansas (which later merged with the city of Mission) and enjoyed time working outdoors on a family farm near Farley, Missouri and particularly being a true fulltime dad (Mr. Mom).
Was a devoted MU Tiger alumnus and fan and would always offer an upbeat assessment …that there was always next year if the Tigers happened to falter in their athletic football & basketball endeavors!"
He was extremely proud of his Swiss Heritage. One memorable event he always cherished was being able to travel to Switzerland to visit Rüti bei Büren where the Sloop ancestry began many centuries ago. (The name "Sloop" was derived (or Americanized) from its original Swiss spelling of "Schlup" which is pronounced the same.)
Loved the great outdoors, going on fantastic traveling adventures both home and abroad, eating good food, golfing, fishing, camping and particularly spending time at Stockton Lake – But more importantly just being with family and friends.
Life does have many twists and turns – Two events that forever shaped him early in life as a young man was the untimely death of his father due to complications from rheumatic fever and the loss of their family business both occurring in 1931 at the height of the Great Depression.
A motto he always lived by throughout all of his life, and to be successful in life, which again was forged by his experiences going through the Great Depression was to treat others the way you wanted to be treated – Get that education (which cannot be taken away) – Work smarter not harder – Surround yourself with family and good friends – Take care of yourself (health wise) and avoid being dependent upon others by living within your means because tomorrow does come!
He was preceded in death by his parents Ed & Mayme Sloop and a sister Virginia Doddridge (who passed away at 102). He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Marianne Sloop; two daughters, Rebecca Pierce and Candace Sloop; a son, Mark Sloop; granddaughter, Racheal Spears and grandson, Richard Pierce; as well as many nieces and nephews and friends and of course his beloved dachshund Rudy.
He will always be remembered as a very kind and generous man from that nearly forgotten great generation & era of history which saw much hardship & sacrifice and the incredible achievements that occurred over the last century which brought extraordinary change and benefits to the generations of today.
He was always there as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. He will be missed by all who knew him and loved him and will be remembered forever. He was the best of the very best.
He can now truly say: "He has been there, done that, and seen it all!
Services will be private with burial in the Maple Hills Cemetery, Kirksville, Missouri. In lieu of flowers, family suggests donations to Kansas City Hospice House or a charity of their choice.
Parents:
Edward Clarence Sloop (1878 - 1931)
Mayme Opal Lorenz Sloop (1880 - 1965)
Sibling:
Virginia Sloop Doddridge (1909 - 2010)
Richard L Sloop (1911 - 2013)
Photo contributed by Larry and Susan Olson lolson60@cableone.net
Contributed on 3/31/16 by hawkinsdonna48
Email This Contributor
Suggest a Correction
Record #: 789762