On Sunday, October 2nd, 2016, Thomas Roper Chambers passed away in Houston.

Born Thomas Wesley Roper Jr., Sept. 22nd, 1924 to Thomas Wesley & Theodora Ortmann Roper, in Florence S.C.  He spent his youth in Bennettsville, Clio, and the family farm in Marlboro County S.C. With the death of his parents at age 10, Tom went to Epworth Children's Home in Columbia S.C.

When he was 13, Tom and his sister Harriet were adopted by Kirby and Hallie Chambers, and moved to the Chambers' farm in New Castle, Kentucky. On his adoption, his name was changed to Thomas Roper Chambers.

A year later Tom's adopted father Kirby Chambers passed away. Shortly thereafter, Tom entered into Kentucky Military Institute. Upon graduation from KMI, Tom was inducted into the U.S. Army, where he served in the Battle of the Ardennes (Battle of the Bulge) and the Battle of the Rhineland during World War II.

In later years, Tom would spend time with WWII Veterans organizations, along with becoming part of the active leadership for the National Veterans of Battle of the Bulge Association. Participation with these organizations incentivized Tom to write a series of vignettes that recounted his own experiences. He also spoke to younger generations to enlighten and pass along those lessons in history.

Tom was released from the Army and returned to New Castle Kentucky to continue running the farm. During the summer, he enrolled in Centre College to pursue a business degree in economics. In November, Tom met Elizabeth V. Dosker – the love of his life and future wife. While attending Centre, Tom continued to help his mother manage the farm and also ran a business in Danville, KY.

The spring of 1952 Tom graduated Centre College, earning a BA in Economics. Upon accepting a position with American Air Filter, he moved to Louisville in the fall of 1952. The move to Louisville marked a time in Tom's life where he no longer actively lived on, ran or managed the family farm in New Castle.

Nonetheless, for many years, he would rent a plot of land from Jefferson County during the summer to farm fresh vegetables, or lovingly maintain a flower bed at his home in Louisville. If ever the designate of "Gentleman Farmer" was applied to someone, it would be Tom.

During the early 1970's Tom's lifelong passion for farming and gardening would lead him to be one of the founding members of an event simply known as the Cherokee Flower Trade, which took place in the park at the corner of Willow Avenue and Cherokee Parkway. While the event has evolved over the past 40 years, and it still exists today as the Cherokee Triangle Fair.

Tom and Elizabeth were married on November 27th, 1952 at Second Presbyterian Church in Louisville, KY. They began a family in 1956 with the birth of the first of three sons.

In 1965, Tom earned an MBA from the University of Louisville. Later that year he began the pursuit of one of his passions and founded Chambers Trading Company. It engaged in the Export of Heavy Equipment and Commodities. His work allowed him to travel extensively around the world; from the Far East and Southern Indian Ocean, to Europe.

Tom sojourns in the army and business fostered his love for travel. In this, he planned many family trips that covered most of America. As a young family, they would vacation in South Carolina to see family. Additionally, Tom planned a number of summer road trips covering from the tip of Cape Cod and Plymouth Rock, to the far western reaches of Jackson Hole, Pikes Peak, and the Grand Canyon.

Of course, anyone who knew Tom also knew that another of his greatest joys was engaging in a lively discussion. It didn't matter if the conversation took place in the conference room, as a guest at a party, or with family and friends around his dining room table. He always had a story to tell – albeit long at times - which in some way tied back to the topic at hand.

The holidays were always a special time around the Chambers' home. Anytime there was a major holiday or family event, you would find Tom in the kitchen basting a turkey, whipping up gravy, or roasting chestnuts.  And when the special event was over, he would take the scraps to create a soup that would seem to last for weeks.

Although he never completely retired from business, Tom's attention shifted to works to alleviate human suffering, with extensive research and writing whitepapers on fresh water and mosquito control projects.

Tom maintained his home in Louisville until 2014, when he moved to Houston to be closer to his eldest son.

Thomas Roper Chambers is predeceased by his wife of 44 years, Elizabeth Dosker Chambers; sisters Anita Fogg and Margaret Burns.

Survived by sons Thomas Roper Chambers Jr. (Linda); Kirby Locke Chambers II; Alexander V. Chambers (Maryann); granddaughters: Olivia and Isabella Chambers; and his sisters Harriet Chambers Wilson and Jacqueline Stackhouse.

Memorials donations in lieu of flowers may be directed towards: Centre College in Danville, KY at https://securelb.imodules.com/s/285/giving.aspx?sid=285&gid=1&pgid=1024&cid=1959 .