Howard Kent Soper

Howard Kent Soper, Captain, US Army (Retired), died at home surrounded by his loving family on January 29, 2022 at the age of 93. A native of Baltimore and longtime resident of New Orleans, he is survived by his wife of 32 years, Carroll Beale Soper; two sons, the Rev. Dr. Matthew Howard Soper (Angela) of Houston and William Paul Soper, Commander, US Navy (Retired) (Donna) of Peachtree City, Georgia; a daughter, Mary Norman Soper Yates (Dr. Joshua Yates) of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; and a step-son, William Daniel Dampier (Carol) of Greenwood Village, Colorado. He is also survived by eight grandchildren (Morgan Elisabeth Soper Hickman, Austin Clay Soper, Alexandra Katherine Soper Goemmer, Corey Scott Soper, Ellen Ashby Howard Yates, Benjamin Joseph Yates, John Becket Yates, and Meredith Auden Yates) two step-granddaughters (Danielle Lee Dampier and Michelle Beale Dampier), a great-grandson (Weston Shane Goemmer), and a sister (Eleanor Soper Evans). He is predeceased by a daughter, Lauren Claire Soper, and two sisters (Harriet Soper Fristoe and Cora Wilhelmina Soper Parson). He is also predeceased by his former wife, Dr. Mary Pate Soper.

He was a graduate of the College of Agriculture of the University of Maryland and of the University of Baltimore School of Law. He served in the US Army during the Korean War, retiring as Captain in 1962. He also attended the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. He spent 31 years in the textile industry in New Orleans, heading up the foreign marketing aspect of the business.

Mr. Soper’s passion was genealogy and hereditary societies. He was the past Governor General of the General Society of Colonial Wars from 2004-2007, the past Governor of the Society of Colonial Wars in Louisiana, and also held many other offices in the Louisiana Society and the General Society of that organization. He was past president of the Society of the Cincinnati (Louisiana Association); past president of the Sons of the Revolution (Louisiana Society); past treasurer of the Order of Founders and Patriots (Louisiana Society); past president of the Huguenot Society of New Orleans; past commander of the Military Order of Foreign Wars; and a former Knight in the Military and Hospitaller Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem. He was a member of the Descendants of Colonial Governors, the Descendants of Colonial Clergy, and the Descendants of Mareen Duvall.

He was an avid tennis player and hunter, a life-long Episcopalian, a faithful member of Trinity Episcopal Church, and a devoted, long-time participant in the Trinity Men’s Bible Study Breakfast. He was also a former member of the Vestry and Senior Warden of St. Phillip’s Episcopal Church. He was a member of the Pickwick Club, the New Orleans Lawn Tennis Club, and several carnival organizations.

The family wishes to thank Mr. Soper’s faithful caregivers: Mrs. Barbara Roberts, Mrs. Delia Tufaro, Mr. Greg Tufaro, and Mrs. Eva Smith. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 12th at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1329 Jackson Avenue, New Orleans, 70130 at 1 pm, preceded by visitation from

12 to 1 pm. A brief service in the Trinity columbarium will follow the church service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Colonial Quest, General Society of Colonial Wars, 1418 Baltimore Street, Suite 12-129, Hanover, PA 17331; or to the Trinity Church Perpetual Memorial & Endowment Fund, 1329 Jackson Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70130.