GRAVE AND SERVICES FOR BABY DONATED

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, March 20, 1993                   TAG: 9303200335
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: RON BROWN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short
GRAVE AND SERVICES FOR BABY DONATED
Burial arrangements were donated Friday for a stillborn baby found Thursday in a trash can at McDonald's in Roanoke County.
Frank G. Roupas, a local ballroom-dancing instructor, donated a space in his family plot in Evergreen Cemetery for the burial of the child, estimated to have been born 24 to 48 hours before the body was discovered.
Roupas said a graveside service is scheduled for Tuesday at 11 a.m.
The plot, adorned by a 6-foot monument to Roupas' grandfather, contains 12 grave sites.
"I'm so glad I could help in this way," he said.
Roupas said he arranged to donate the grave site after contacting Lotz Funeral Home, which is handling the child's body.
Roupas said he was struck by the kindness of another man who donated a grave site when Baby Isaiah, a Roanoke newborn abandoned in a Dumpster, died after living five days in late 1990.
"It was such a nice gesture," said Roupas, who said he planned to name the baby "R.C.," for Roanoke County.
Lotz is also donating its services in burying the child.
"It's a sad, sad thing," said Ben Rogers, Lotz' general manager.
Evergreen Cemetery is donating the cost of opening and closing the grave.
The dead baby was discovered by a worker at the McDonald's on Plantation Road who was emptying an outdoor trash can at the restaurant around 10 a.m. Thursday. The body was wrapped in a towel.
The medical examiner's office said the child had died before taking a breath. Police said the child's umbilical cord was still attached.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB