1906 – 1984 (November 25)
Charles Francis Kropp, the son of John Kropp and Mary Hoban, was born in Plains, Pennsylvania, on June 20, 1906. He attended primary school in Plains Township and Coughlin High School in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He worked as a pharmacist until 1935 when he entered Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, New York, as a postulant. The following year he was admitted to the novitiate of Our Mother of Good Counsel, New Hamburg, New York, and professed simple vows on September 10, 1937. After obtaing a B.S. degree in science from Villanova College in 1938, he studied theology at Augustinian College, Washington, DC, and made his solemn profession of vows in 1940. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 10, 1941, and completed his studies in science at the Catholic University of America where he earned an M.S. degree in 1942.
In June, 1942, Father Kropp was assigned as professor to Villanova College where he taught for twenty-three years until 1965. While at Villanova he held various positions within the Province: subprior of the monastery from 1950 to 1959, and prior from 1959 to 1965. In June, 1965, he was assigned to Saint Augustine Parish, Andover, Massachusetts. In 1968 he returned to teaching, as professor of biology at Mount Alvernia College, Reading, Pennsylvania. In 1982 he retired at Saint Thomas Monastery, Villanova.
Father Kropp suffered from diabetes for many years. While visiting his family for the Thanksgiving holidays, he died suddenly at his sister’s home in Plains, Pennsylvania, on November 25, 1984. Funeral and burial took place on November 28, 1984 in his home town of Plains. He is buried in his family plot.
Father Kropp had all the roughness of a son of the coal regions of Pennsylvania and a big heart to help anybody in trouble. His favorite avocation was apologetics.
