Oliver W. Cropper, community leader
Oliver Willard Cropper, 92, passed away peacefully in his sleep Thursday Oct. 6, 2011. He was a popular, well-known businessman and lifelong resident of Selbyville and Fenwick Island.
In 1941 he joined the Army Air Force and was enrolled in Aviation Flight School. He flew on 44 combat missions in a B24 bomber for the 13th Air Force in the Pacific, receiving many decorations including the American Presidential Citation, Philippines Citation, and the Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters.
In 1944, he returned to Selbyville and subsequently established Community Home Furnishings, T&C Mobile Home Sales, Suburban Propane, and Summertime Trailer Park, later acquiring Lighthouse Trailer Park. Other entrepreneurial ventures included real estate and research with Styrofoam and bio-recyclable animal feed.
A lifelong civic and community leader, Mr. Cropper was a life member of the Lions Club, a 32nd degree Mason, a member of the Doric Lodge No. 30 in Millville and a member of the Scottish Rite. As a Shriner, he was a member of the Nur Temple in Wilmington and a charter member of the Ocean City Shrine Club. Mr. Cropper was a life member of the Mason-Dixon VFW Post 7234, where he held both state and national offices. He was instrumental in purchasing the VFW property at Quillen’s Point in the 1950s. He also served as a trustee of the Williamsville School.
Oliver Cropper was a longtime member of Salem United Methodist Church, where he served on the board of trustees. He was an early advocate for establishing St. Matthews By-The-Sea and later joined the congregation.
Active in politics, he served as a Republican committeeman for 16 years. During this time he held both elected and appointed positions, including president of the Wetlands Appeals Board of the state of Delaware.
In 1970, when the Coast Guard turned over the Fenwick Island Lighthouse to the state, Cropper was instrumental in preserving and establishing the site as a major tourist attraction. He was a charter member of the Friends of Fenwick Island Lighthouse and served for over 30 years as vice president and then president.
In 2007, in recognition of his many years of public service and at the request of the residents of Summertime Trailer Park, Rep. Gerald Hocker and Sen. George H. Bunting cosponsored a joint resolution to officially name a point of land in the Little Assawoman Bay as “Oliver’s Point.” The resolution was unanimously approved by both houses and passed into law.
Mr. Cropper enjoyed the outdoors, reading, lively conversation and debate concerning public affairs. He was a longtime coffee club member where he was able to engage all who attended.
Mr. Cropper is survived by his fiancée, Adele Mayfield; two sons, Brice (Kathy) and Ross (Melodie); two daughters, Allyn Fruman (Harvey) and Ellen Dolby (Bruce); and 12 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents William and Ella (Daisey) Cropper, his wife Rachel Doeleman Cropper in 1990, his son Todd; and six brothers and sisters: Denver, George, Hall, William, Verlie and Mildred.
A funeral service will be held at noon, Tuesday, Oct. 11, at St. Matthews By-The-Sea United Methodist Church, 1000 Coastal Highway, Fenwick Island, where friends may call from 10 a.m. until noon. Interment will be in Roxana Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Co. Ambulance Service, P.O. Box 142, Bethany Beach, DE 19930 or St. Matthews By-The-Sea United Methodist Church, 1000 Coastal Highway, Fenwick Island, DE 19944.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Hastings Funeral Home, Selbyville.
