Mr. Russell Lee “Rusty” Roper, age 63, of 195 River Rd., Union, passed away Thursday, October 15, 2026, at Union Post Acute.

Mr. Roper was born on August 20, 1962, in Union, a son of the late Charles L. Roper and Mildred Bailey Roper. He was a 1981 graduate of Union High School and a graduate of Spartanburg Technical College. Mr. Roper was a Paramedic with Union EMS for over 40 years. He was a member of Mon Aetna Baptist Church.

Surviving are a son, Charles Lee Roper of Union; two step-daughters, Taylor Vaughan of Union and Lindsay Vaughan Cooper of Woodruff; six grandchildren, Preston James Roper, Jake Turner, Joseph and Bennett Millwood, and Brantley and Makenzie Henderson; an aunt, Reida Bailey Cochran of Campobello; and three uncles, Donald “Donnie” Bailey of Duncan, Larry Bailey of Boiling Springs, and Reid Bailey of Blacksburg. He was predeceased by a brother, Donald W. “Don” Roper; two uncles Neil Roper and Carrol Bailey and an aunt, Betty Jo Wages.

Services will be held at 1:00 PM Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at the S.R. Holcombe Funeral Chapel conducted by the Rev. Dr. Tom Tucker and Rev. Barol Bailey. Burial will follow at Union Memorial Gardens.

Visitation will be immediately following the services at the cemetery.