Rev. William Lee Soper, 1877 - 1962

Dr. William Lee Soper Starts Work at Endicott

 

 

Rev. William Lee Soper

1877 - 1964

 

W.L. Soper, former principal of Oxford Academy, who will teach senior high school English in the Union-Endicott high school the coming year.  Mr. Soper will commute to and from Endicott until he finds suitable living quarter in Endicott.  He started his duties Wednesday.

 

Faculty Honor Soper at Farewell Banquet

 

A farewell banquet honoring Principal S.L. Soper and Mrs. Soper was given by members of the [Oxford] Academy faculty at the Te-off-ni-oga Tea Room at Killawog, Monday evening at 6:30.  Group singing was led by Fred Parciany, instrumental music instructor.  A Gladstone bag was presented to Mr. Soper and a handbag to Mrs. Soper, as tokens of appreciation of the understanding, loyalty and friendship of the principal for his teachers.  Mr. Soper responded with an impressive talk, giving a charge to those present, as teachers and a greeting as friends.

 

Soper Accepts Earlville Call

1938

 

W.L. Soper, former principal of Oxford Academy and now teaching English in the Union-Endicott High School, has been given a call to become pastor of the Earlville Baptist church, it was announced yesterday.  Mr. Soper, who studied for the ministry and spent many years as a missionary in Burma, is especially well qualified to accept the Earlville position where he will replace the Rev. W.M. Lewis, who has resigned to take over the ministerial duties in a church at Batavia.  Mr. Soper will relinquish his teaching duties in Endicott as soon as a substitute can be found and will take several weeks of vacation before commencing his work at Earlville about the middle of October.

 

Nearly Hundred Attend Reception for Sopers Friday

October 1938

 

Nearly 100 people assembled in the Baptist church last Friday evening for the farewell reception for the Rev. and Mrs. W.L. Soper who moved Tuesday to Earlville, where Mr. Soper will be pastor of the Baptist church.  The reception was held in the assembly room in the church basement which had been decorated with barberry, autumn leaves and marigolds in keeping with autumn.  Speakers included Dr. H.C. Whedon, J.C. Estelow and the Rev. F.L. Anderson who spoke of the inspirational and character-building work which has been done by Mr. and Mrs. Soper during their long residence here, and the fine type of friendship they have shown at all times. Miss Francis King, of Binghamton, gave several vocal solos from the compositions of the late John Prindle Scott, of McDonough. Zerah Cone accompanied her on the piano.  Mr. and Mrs. Soper were presented with a beautiful occasional chair and a reading lamp in appreciation of the work they have done in the Baptist church here in addition to the unanimous well wishes from those present for success and happiness in their new home.

 

Obituary

The Post Standard, Syracuse, NY, January 4, 1964

 

The Rev. William L. Soper, 86, former pastor of First Baptist Church, Earlville, died Thursday night in Veterans Administration Hospital after a long illness.  Mr. Soper was a missionary to Burma and was principal of schools in Norfolk,, Roscoe, Tully and Oxford.  Since his retirement in 1945, he lived in Conneant, Ohio.  where he was secretary of the Lions Club and a member of the library Board.  Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Gladys Soper; three sons, Clyde of Michigan, Daniel and David of Illinois; a daughter, Mrs. John Christiana of Syracuse, and 10 grandchildren.  Services and burial will be Monday in Conneant.