Oliver C. Harper Jr., 72, of Beckley, died Sunday, April 22, 2007, at Raleigh General Hospital in Beckley. Born May 8, 1934, in the Calloway Heights community of Beckley, he was the son of the late Oliver C. Harper and Ada Glover Harper. A graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, Class of 1952, Oliver was the right tackle on Jerome VanMeter’s football team during the era when Beckley became known as the “City of Champions.” He taught at Beckley Junior High School for 23 years and was in the nursery and landscaping business in Beckley for many years. Oliver received a B.S. degree from West Virginia Tech and an M.S. degree in education from West Virginia University. He was preceded in death by his wife of 42 years, Shirley Hawks Harper. Oliver is survived by a son, Douglas W. Harper and daughter-in-law, Shelley Harper, of Beckley; a daughter, Judy H. Thomas and son-in-law, Hayes N. Thomas Jr., of Fort Mill, S.C.; and four grandchildren, Erin Michele Harper, Douglas Oliver Harper, Allyson Elizabeth Thomas, and Hayes Napier Thomas III. Oliver is also survived by two brothers, Alfred Harper of Beckley and Joe Harper of Delaware, and numerous nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley. Private graveside service will be held in Monroe County at the Harper Family Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bowers Hospice House, 454 Cranberry Dr., Beckley, WV 25801, in memory of Mr. Harper. Online condolences may be sent to our guest book at roseandquesenberry.net. Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley.