Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, October 11, 1993 TAG: 9310110139
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
OBIT STROUPE, EDWARD HENRY
STROUPE, Edward Henry, 84, of Salem, passed away October 9, 1993. He went
to be with the Lord and his wife, Grace Allen Stroup on Saturday. He was also
preceded in death by his mother Dollie Stroupe, and brother, Bill Stroupe. An
accident early in his life had injured his left leg and he was bedridden for
sometime. During this time he taught himself morse code. Mr. Stroupe came to
Salem in the early 1930's to open the Western Union & Telegraph office on Main
Street, where the parking lot is next to Macados. The Western Union was
formerly next to Thompson's Jewelry Store. After Western Union, he went with
Norfolk Southern as a telegraph operator and retired from there after being
Station Manager in Salem for several years. He loved Salem. During the years
with Western Union and Norfolk Southern, he raised chickens, ran a store on
Main Street called Hillcrest Hatchery and Poultry Farm, the first location was
on West Main where the Lamp Shop is now, then where Valley Mattress Shop is
now, and built the building and occupied it where Barker Realty Company and
the Antique Furniture Reproduction Place now is and later moved to a building
behind Scaggs Barber Shop. He also built houses and developed the area from
Academy and Carrollton to Nichols Rd. He gave the land to the city of Salem to
extend Carrollton Avenue to connect with Cameron Court. The land from
Carrollton to Hillcrest and beyond was the land where he raised chickens,
eggs, and had the first chicken picking machine in the area at his Academy St.
home. He received many awards and was an avid golfer, passing this ability on
to many people at the Salem Golf Course, his three grandsons, Barry, David,
and Kevin Wirt, as well as his son, Richard and son-in-law, Jim and many
others. He owned and operated Skyline Motel during the mid 60's. He was a
member and officer of the Morse Telegraph Club for many years, a member of the
Salem Host Lions Club for 47 years, held many offices in the Lions Club, and
was the recipient of the Melvin Jones Fellows Award, and was faithful to the
Concession Stand at the Salem Football Stadium through last year. He is
survived by a son, Richard L. Stroupe; daughter and son-in-law, Carole S. W.
and James L. Keith; grandsons and wives, Barry Edward and Becky Wirt, David
Roy and Kim Wirt of Chapin, S.C., Kevin Richard and Heather Wirt of Peabody,
Mass.; granddaughter, Kathy Keith Martin and her husband, Sonny;
great-grandchildren, Barry Edward Wirt Jr., Christopher Wesley Wirt, Caroline
Grace Wirt, Lindsay Meredith Wirt, Courtney Mae Wirt, Sutton David Wirt; three
stepgreat-grandchildren; two stepgreat-great-grandchildren; a dearly beloved
friend of Edwards and the family was Rosa Brooks and her family. Rosa and her
children were very loving and supportive. Mr. Stroupe spent the past three and
one-half months at the home of his daughter and son-in-law. They were
wonderful fun filled times, and great memories for them all. A special thanks
to all the nurses, doctors and staff at Roanoke Memorial Hospital (8 West), to
Rev. Carl Zigler and Rev. Edward Woodard. Funeral services will be held noon
Tuesday, October 12, 1993, at Oak Grove Church of the Brethren with Rev.
Edward Woodard and Rev. Carl Zigler officiating. Grandson Kevin Wirt will read
scriptures. Memorials may be made to Oak Grove Church of the Brethren. The
family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday at the John M. Oakey and
Son Funeral Home, Salem.
by CNB