Ernest Vincent Sopher, Jr., 92, of Houston, passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 15, 2022 at his home surrounded by family.

A funeral mass is scheduled at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, November 4, 2022, at St. John Vianney Catholic Church with a reception to follow at the church.

Vince was born on September 7, 1930 to Ernest Vincent and Emma Agnes (Hodes) Sopher in Kansas City Missouri. He grew up in the shadows of the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in a very loving and happy environment with his parents and eight siblings. The values of faith and family followed him throughout his life as Vince always put his family first. He was at the breakfast table every morning, the dinner table every night, and Sunday mornings were for mass with the family.

By his own account, Vince lived a very happy childhood, and his athletic prowess was well known in Kansas City. He received 16 letters while at Glennon High school, lettering in football, basketball, track, and baseball all 4 years. While he excelled at all sports, baseball was his love. While pitching in Sportsman Park in St. Louis for the Missouri All Stars of the Ban Johnson Collegiate League, Vince was discovered and signed by the New York Yankees. He was invited to the Yankees spring training camp but never got to attend as three months before the beginning of camp, he was drafted into the Korean war.

Vince was proud to serve his country and was sent to San Diego for Naval training. Towards the end of his basic training, he was approached by a senior officer who had received word of his baseball talent. The officer asked Vince to represent the Naval baseball team in Japan where he had the opportunity to pitch against several major league players over his 4 years. He was awarded "Best Pitcher in Tokyo" in 1953, but unfortunately, a Tommy John injury ended his competitive baseball career the following year.

Following his honorable discharge from the Navy in 1954, Vince returned to Kansas City and continued his education at Rockhurst College followed by the University of Missouri in Columbia. In 1957, Vince married the love of his life, Lois Kathleen Thomas. They were one month short of their 65th wedding anniversary upon his passing. Vince's career took the family to New Jersey, back to Kansas City, and then to New Orleans. In 1972, Vince was transferred to Houston where the family settled in the West Memorial area. Houston is where he spent the remaining 50 years of his life, entrenched in the Spring Branch Memorial Sports Association and a fixture on the local tennis courts and a member of St. John Vianney Catholic Church for over 50 years. Many a young man was blessed to be coached by Vince and many an umpire or referee felt his wrath.

Vince and Kathleen eventually moved from Memorial to the Cypress area to be closer to their children and grandchildren. They were fixtures at Langham Creek High School sporting events, never missing a grandchild's game. In his retirement years, Vince enjoyed playing golf, hunting trips with his son, and trips with his wife and family. He especially loved the mountains of the American West, and one of his last requests were to have his ashes scattered there.

Vince was a man of unconditional love, a witty sense of humor, and fierce loyalty to his family and friends. He would do anything for his family with no complaints and no questions asked. As kids and as adults, his children could not have asked for a better father, role model, or friend. He will be forever missed.

Vince was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Emma Sopher; his three brothers, George Sopher, Jim Sopher, August Sopher, and four sisters, Mary King, Margie Cierpiot, Kathy Sopher, and Sharon Hubbard. He has one surviving sister, Rose Ann Buchholz of Illinois. He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Kathleen Sopher; his eldest daughter, Beth Hendricks; his son, Steven Sopher and wife Beth; and his youngest daughter, Laura Bruha and husband Gregg as well as his surrogate son, Chad LeBlanc and wife Angela. Vince is also survived by his seven grandchildren who were the apples of his eye, Brandon, Maria, and John Michael Sopher and wife Isabela, Austin and Rachel Hendricks, Patrick Bruha, and Katharine LeBlanc.

~o0o~

Under the wide and starry sky,

Dig the grave and let me lie.

Glad did I live and gladly die,

And I laid me down with a will.

This be the verse you grave for me:

Here he lies where he longed to be;

Home is the sailor, home from sea,

And the hunter home from the hill