Funeral Services will be held for Oray Joseph Choplin, 86, at 10:00AM Friday May 24, 2013 at David Funeral Home of Lafayette. Visitation will begin at 5:00PM until 9:00PM on Thursday May 23, 2013 with a recitation of the Holy Rosary at 7:00PM and will resume at 8:00AM on Friday May 24, 2013 until just prior to service time. Entombment will be at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Broussard, LA. Born on March 10, 1927 to parents, Emile Choplin, Sr. and Ada Champagne of Broussard, LA; Oray was the youngest of eight children. He served in the U.S. Navy and Naval Reserves for nearly six years. As a Seaman Second Class he received an Honorable Discharge and was awarded the Philippine Liberation Ribbon and a three star Asiatic Pacific Campaign Ribbon for service on the USS Quadalupe; which was bombed while he was on board ship. Oray worked as an auto mechanic for many years in the Acadiana area. He became a deputy with the Lafayette Parish Sheriffs Department, serving under the last four Sheriffs in office until he retired. He leaves behind two sons, Steven Choplin and his wife Karen of Milton, LA, David Choplin and his wife, Janelle of Edmond, OK and two daughters, Dianne Vincent of Youngsville, LA and Lynne Reynolds and her husband, John of Pineville, LA.His grandsons, Chris Miller and his wife, Nanette of Weatherford, OK and Jacob Choplin of Edmond,OK; three granddaughters, Dana Boudreaux and her husband David of Pineville, LA, Kamie Hastings of Milton, LA and Addison Choplin of Edmond,OK;his great-grandchildren, Justin Vincent, Jackson Lucas, Adele Hastings and Lily Adele Boudreaux. He was preceded in death by his wife, Adele Hollier Choplin; his brothers, Emile Choplin, Jr. and Pierre Louis Choplin; his sisters, Isabelle Thibodeaux, Nettie Thompson, Marie Lepinay, Germaine Whatley and Mercedes Van Horn. For the past 12 years Oray called River Oaks Retirement Manor his home. The family wishes to thank the entire staff for their loving care and the generosity offered to him over the years. Thanks also to Hospice of Acadiana for their assistance and support. David Funeral Home of Lafayette, LA (337) 837-9887, 316 Youngsville Hwy. Lafayette, LA 70508 is in charge of all of the arrangements.
