Kropf, Harold Christian (1903-1987)

Harold Christian Kropf was born July 27, 1903, the second child of John W. and Sarah Plank Kropf. He grew up in Orrville, Ohio in a family with roots in the Mennonite Church. After undergraduate school at Bluffton and Ashland Colleges he obtained a law degree from National University Law School in Washington, D.C. In 1937 he married Edna Bott of Apple Creek, Ohio, and in 1940 they returned to Orrville where he established his law practice. They were members of Christ Reformed Church in Orrville. An active member of the church, he also served as president of the Churchmen's Brotherhood of Southeast Ohio Synod and was elected to membership on the Commission for Christian Social Action of the Evangelical and Reformed Church and as a delegate to General Synod. Harold was a founder of Boys Village in Smithville, Ohio. In 1951 he participated in the European Seminar and in the year that followed his trip he spoke to various congregations, Sunday Schools and Men's Brotherhood organizations throughout Ohio. He worked in the general practice of law until he died in 1987 at the age of 84.