Robert O. Soper

Robert (Bob) Ott Soper, a native of Selinsgrove, PA, passed away peacefully on March 29, 2024, at the age of 93. Bob was born on April 7, 1930, in Sunbury, PA, to Albert T. and Helen E. (Ott) Soper. Bob graduated Selinsgrove High School in 1948, attended The Hill School, in Pottstown, PA, for one year, and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Engineering from Lehigh University, in Bethlehem, PA, in 1953. After college, he joined the U.S. Army Medical Corps, serving 18 months of his 2-year commitment in Japan. Bob married Sunbury native, Violet (Vi) Smith, on November 26, 1955.Upon military discharge, Bob joined the family-based business, J.G. Ott Packagings; he became president in 1969. Ott Packagings made boxes for candy, toys, games, apparel, and more. Among Bob’s prized products were beautiful, velvet-lined boxes, adorned with the Presidential seal, made to hold crystal goblets for President Ronald Reagan to gift to dignitaries. Bob, along with his brother and partner Jerry, ran the business successfully until its sale in 1989. For his years of service and involvement with the National Paperbox & Packaging Association, Bob received several awards.Bob loved Selinsgrove and felt a strong commitment to give back to the community. His belief in the responsibility of service to others developed in Boy Scouts (he earned Eagle Scout and later the Silver Beaver Award) and continued throughout his life. Bob was actively involved, often in a leadership and/or fundraising role, with numerous non-profit organizations, including Boy Scouts of America, Rotary Club, United Way, Sunbury Community Hospital Board of Trustees, and the Selinsgrove Area Youth Foundation. He humbly received numerous awards from these and other organizations to honor his dedication and years of service. Bob was also a deeply devoted, long-time member of Sharon Lutheran Church, in Selinsgrove. In 2016, Bob and Vi moved to Buffalo Valley Lutheran Village, a retirement community in Lewisburg, PA, where they resided for nearly seven years before their move to Brandywine Living in Moorestown, NJ. Bob enjoyed spending time at the family cabin, fishing, gardening, dancing, cheering for Penn State, painting, and organizing everything under the sun! He had a friendly smile, a great sense of humor, tremendous generosity, and eagerness to help others. Bob is survived by his wife, four children - Leigh Ann Izzi (Ed), Jan Kristensen (Harold), Richard (Melissa), and Kay Jambor (Pat), nine grandchildren – Jessica, Alyssa, Neil, Dana, Elliott, Emily, Chris, Jake, and Julia - and six great-grandchildren plus two on-the-way. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, his brother (Jerry) and his sister (Joan). A private service and celebration of life will be held by the family, with Rev. Jessica Hahn of Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church, Hainesport, NJ, officiating. A committal service will be held at West Side Cemetery, Shamokin Dam, PA, at a later date. Donations in Bob’s memory may be sent to the Selinsgrove Community Pool at Selinsgrove Area Recreation Inc. (SARI), PO Box 172, Selinsgrove, PA 17870.

Robert O. Soper

April 7, 1930 - March 29, 2024