Troy Raper

Troy Lamar Raper, husband of Margaret Watson Raper, died February 22, 2021 at age 99.  He was born in Little Rock on November 25, 1921 to Albert C. and Ola Prickett Raper.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Albert C. Raper, Jr. and Nolan Vance Raper, sister, Virginia Raper Harrison, and a nephew, Richard Edwin Raper.

He graduated from Little Rock Senior High School in 1940 and was employed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1941. After a period of active duty in the military service in WWII, he returned to the Corps of Engineers, retiring in 1977 with 36 years of service.  At the time of his retirement, he was Chief of the Planning and Control Branch and Assistant Chief of the Real Estate Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Little Rock.

He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in World War II, graduated from flight training as a pilot in June 1944 and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant.  He served in the Asiatic Pacific Theater with the 5th Air Force, 345th Bomb Group.  At the end of hostilities, he served in the occupation of Japan with the 3rd Emergency Rescue Squadron.  He was discharged from active duty in February 1946, entered the Air Force Reserve and retired in 1981 as a Lieutenant Colonel.

In October 1946, he and the former Margaret E. Watson were married in Little Rock.  At the time of his death they had been married 76 years. He was a member of Asbury United Methodist Church.  He was also a member of the 345th Bomb Group Association and the Air Force Association.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his nephews, Blake Harrison and wife, Cristy of Lonoke, Steve Raper and wife, Tena, of Strafford, Missouri; nieces, Gail Harrison York and husband, Cline of Lonoke, Joan Raper of Richmond, Texas, and Katie Warford Richmond and husband, Cody of Elkins, Arkansas.

Visitation will be Tuesday, March 2 from 5-7 p.m. at Smith Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct. Graveside services will be Wednesday, March 3 at 10:00 a.m. at Forest Hills Memorial Park in Alexander, officiated by Dr. Bob Dunaway.

Arrangements by Smith Little Rock Funeral Home, (501)224-2200.  Mr. Raper’s online guestbook may be signed at www.smithfamilycares.com.