Betty Sue (Bobo) Roper

Betty Sue Bobo Roper was born January 17, 1942, to the late O. L. Bobo and Vera Geneva Reynolds Bobo in Birmingham, Alabama Hospital. She passed away in presence of family on November 22, 2025, at home in Reynolds Lake Oconee, Greensboro, Georgia, from an extended medical bout.

Betty’s dad was in the Navy in WWII, and the family made Arab, Alabama, their permanent home after the war ended. All through grammar school, Jr. High, and High school, Betty was always the top of her class.  She graduated from Arab High in1960 as the Valedictorian of her class.  Betty met her future husband, Jimmy Franklin Roper, the first day of class in their freshman year at Arab High, and they began dating after their junior year.  After graduation, Betty attended Auburn University and Jimmy attended the University of Alabama.  After being apart for two years, they were married at the First Baptist Church in Arab on September 2, 1962, and were married for over 63 years.  After graduation, they bought their first house in Huntsville, Alabama, in 1966, moved to Plano, TX in 1970, and 18 months later moved to Tucker, GA, where they resided until moving to Reynolds Plantation on Lake Oconee, Greensboro, GA, in 1998.

Betty graduated from the University of Alabama in 1964 with a BS degree in Mathematics. When the space program was launched, Betty joined GE as a computer programmer working with NASA on the Apollo Moon Landing program.  She took a break from work for 10 years to raise her 2 children, Alicia and Joel. She has always loved her family very much and did what was best for them and enjoyed attending their various activities.  She briefly worked as a substitute teacher in Dekalb County, GA, so she could have the same schedule as her kids.  She enjoyed sewing and made many outfits for the kids and herself.

Betty returned to the workforce as a computer programmer for Rollins, Inc.  Later, she performed management duties with the software company, MSA.  She then joined IBM and became product manager for various projects throughout her career until her decision to retire to Reynolds Plantation in 1999.

Betty had always dreamed of living on a lake and traveling the world. Her dreams were answered as Betty and Jimmy enjoyed national and international travel with family and friends throughout their lives. Her favorite form of travel was cruising. They went on over a dozen cruises, visited numerous countries, all continents (except Antarctica), and 48 states. 

Betty’s favorite card game was Contract Bridge which she played throughout her life.  After retirement, she played at her local bridge club and attended many bridge tournaments throughout the southeast.  She taught bridge classes and was a director and officer in her local bridge club.  She was extremely proud to achieve the Contract Bridge Silver Life Master status.  She played golf with the ladies nine-hole group for a few years, belonged to a lady's book club, Reynolds Ladies Club, Reynolds chorus, dinner groups, and the Greensboro First Methodist Church Lake Oconee choir.  She enjoyed boating with family and friends and always enjoyed dining out.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, O.L. Bobo and Vera Geneva Reynolds Bobo.  She is survived by her husband, Jimmy Franklin Roper, daughter Alicia Roper Korich, son Joel Christopher Roper (Ginger Russom), grandchildren Haley Roper Ratliff (Matthew), Hayden Roper (Breanna Elmore), Holly Roper, Jordan Korich, Alexander Korich, great grandchildren Keefer Ratliff, Heston Ratliff, Wyatt Ratliff, and one more great grandson on the way, brothers Gary Bobo (Susan), David Bobo, sister Karen Bobo, and many other beloved relatives and friends.

Services will be held at the Arab Heritage Funeral Home in Arab, AL, on Wednesday, November 26 at 11:00 AM CST.  In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to be made to Alzheimer’s Disease Research:

ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE RESEARCH
22512 Gateway Center Drive

PO Box 1950

Clarksburg, MD 20871-1950

 McCommons Funeral Home, located at 109 W. Broad Street, Greensboro, Georgia, (706) 453-2626, is entrusted with local arrangements. To sign the online guest register, please visit www.mccommonsfuneralhome.com.

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