Retha Gopp

Retha Gopp, who celebrated her seventy-third birthday just three days prior to her sudden death, entered her heavenly reward late Sunday morning, September 25, 2011, in Fort Walton Beach Medical Center of Florida. Born at Dale, Kentucky, September 22, 1938, she was the youngest and last surviving of thirteen children born to the late Frank and Birdie Clemens Collinsworth. Retha and her family relocated outside of Dover while she was still a young lady, and she went on to graduate from Dover High School in 1956. Later the same year on November 23, she married Jerry Dean Gopp, and together went on to celebrate fifty-two years of marriage before his death in March, 2009. For many years, Retha worked as a store manager for the former Goshen Dairy Stores, and later with the Tuscarawas County Health Department serving as a home health aid. A member of New Philadelphia’s First Baptist Church, Retha was active in the mission work of the church, several times traveling overseas with her husband and other members of the congregation to help build the kingdom of God. She’ll be remembered by her family for her love for people, for her servant’s heart, and for her ability to companion people through the valleys of sickness and at the end of life. Survivors include her three sons; Randy and his wife Diana Gopp of New Philadelphia, Allen and his wife Kimberly Gopp of Mary Esther Florida, and Todd and his wife Naomi Gopp, also of New Philadelphia. She’ll be sadly missed by her eight grandchildren; Jeremy (wife, Michelle) Gopp, Nathan (wife, Megan) Gopp, Sarah (husband, Broc) Wilson, Rachel Gopp, Melissa (husband, Matt) Garvey, Allen Gopp II, Connor Gopp and Ty Gopp Two step-grandchildren, Christina Vitt and Kaitlin Lescalett, five great-grandchildren; Hannah, Lily, Chelsie, Dominic and Lucas Gopp and a step-great-grandson, Caleb Metcalf, completes the family. A brother-in-law, Terry Gopp of New Philadelphia, as well as a sister-in-law, Janet Gopp, also of New Philadelphia, also survives. In addition to her parents and husband, Retha was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Shannon Gopp, a step-grandson, Ryan Vitt, her sisters; Daisy Cappillo, Cynthia Brothers, Chloe Conley, Rhoda Goudy, and her brothers; Delbert, Sterlin, Estill, Orville, Dorsey, William, Arnold and Henry Clay Collinsworth. A brother-in-law, Eugene Gopp, is also deceased. Friends are invited to call Thursday, September 29, from 2-4 and from 6-8 PM in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia. Pastor Jeff Bartell will lead Mrs. Gopp’s funeral ceremony Friday morning at 10:30 in the funeral home’s chapel. Burial will follow in Evergreen Burial Park. Following the committal service, family and friends will gather for a luncheon in The Barn, behind the church. Memorial contributions may be made to the Missions Fund at First Baptist Church, 878 Commercial Avenue SW New Philadelphia OH 44663.Linn-Hert-Geib(330) 343-5506www.geibcares.com