Leona Marie Walker Troop, 1929-2023
IMB Photo
Leona Marie Walker Troop, an International Mission Board missionary emeritus who shared the gospel in Brazil, died Aug. 21, 2023, in Kansas City, Missouri. She was 93.
Leona was born Dec. 9, 1929, near Golden City, Missouri, to the late Roscoe and Nellie Walker.
She graduated from Golden City High School in Golden City, Missouri, and studied at Business College in Joplin, Missouri, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, Northwest Missouri State College in Maryville, Missouri, and Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri.
She married Joseph Eugene Troop on May 15, 1949.
“My Lord is a source of constant strength and help,” Leona said while seeking missionary appointment. “He is my companion every day. He has done so much for my life that I want to share His blessings to me with others that they, too, might know my Lord and Saviour. I believe he has called me to witness of His love to people of another country and I pray that I might be able to obey His call.”
In 1960, the Foreign Mission Board (now International Mission Board) appointed Leona and Eugene missionaries to Brazil. They served as Southern Baptist missionaries to Brazil from 1960 to 1994, living mostly in Itabuna, Bahia.
They retired to Kansas City, Missouri, where they continued to be active in their local churches. Leona enjoyed teaching Sunday School. She also enjoyed international travel, visiting Europe several times.
Leona is preceded in death by Eugene, who died in 2002.
She is survived by her six children: Bruce (Vicki) Troop of Kansas City, Missouri; Bryan (Antoinette) Troop of St. Louis, Missouri; Brenda Troop and her companion, Alfred Kimmi, of Everest, Kansas; Bernie (Joyce) of Parkview, Missouri; Bonnie (Alfredo) Costa of Buerarema, Brazil; and Boyd (Anne-Lise) of Fort Collins, Colorado. She is also survived by her 13 grandchildren and over 20 great grandchildren.
A funeral service was held Aug. 25, at McGilley & Sheil Funeral Home in Kansas City, Missouri.
Read an obituary here.