Robert W. Hooper, Sr.

Robert W Hooper Sr., was born in Reidsville, NC on January 20, 1930. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He served in both the US Army & US Air Force. Bob was a motion picture photographer while in the Air Force and he documented and was a witness to many of the world’s greatest and most tragic events. He was one of the first motion picture photographers to film Antarctica. He most notably documented the release of the POW’s from Hanoi in December 1972. He retired to St Matthews SC with his wife, Frances Hooper in 1974. He and Fran ran the Calhoun Country Club for many years. He has been a member of First Baptist Church in St Matthews and a fixture at Hardees in the mornings. He loved traveling, golf and his family. He passed early Saturday morning, January 6, 2024. He will be missed by many. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Beatrice Harvey Hooper (1964) and later his second wife of 50 years, Frances Keisler Hooper (2016). Survivors include three children, Kathleen Rose Riske, Rama Hooper Andrews and Robert W. (Jane) Hooper, Jr.; six grandchildren, Julie Ulmer, Laura (Thomas) Wetherell, Jake Andrews, Alyssa (Alex) Bridges, Rebecca Hooper (Bobby Johnson) and Sarah Hooper; and ten great-grandchildren, Dillon Ulmer, Rachel Ulmer, Madison Ulmer, Samantha Riske-Adkins, Jerry (Rebecca) Riske, David Riske, Jamie Riske, Arya Bridges, Alexander Bridges and Tigerlilly Johnson; and four great-great-grandchildren, Katelyn Riske, Kayden Davis, Abigail Davis and Sophia Davis. Graveside services with military honors will be held at 11:00 A.M., Tuesday, January 9, 2024 at West End Cemetery, 518 Chestnut Street, St. Matthews, SC 29135. The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 P.M., Monday January 8, 2024 at Culler-McAlhany Funeral Home in North. Memorials may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Culler-McAlhany Funeral Home (www.mcalhanyfuneralhome.com) is in charge of arrangements.