Robert “Harper” Foley, a 19-year-old University of Alabama student with deep family ties to Brent, Alabama, died on August 23, 2026, following a brief illness. Harper, who had most recently lived with his family in Dallas, Texas, was born on May 18, 2007, and spent much of his childhood moving around the country as the son of a military officer. Despite those frequent moves, Brent remained a special home for him through his maternal grandparents and extended family. The Harper Foley obituary remembers a young man devoted to family, soccer, fishing and the Crimson Tide, whose unexpected death has left his parents, brothers, fraternity family and friends facing an unimaginable loss. Rockco Funeral Home has announced services in Brent.
Robert “Harper” Foley, 19, died on August 23, 2026, following a brief illness, according to his obituary. The Dallas resident and University of Alabama student had deep roots in Brent, Alabama. He was the son of retired U.S. Army Brigadier General David Clifford Foley and Claire White Foley and a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity.
Robert Harper Foley Dies at 19
Harper’s death was described by his family as both unexpected and unimaginable.
His mother, Claire White Foley, shared an emotional message following the loss, describing Harper as the family’s precious “middle man” and the person who helped hold them together.
She said the family was short on both words and answers as they tried to comprehend what had happened.
The family also expressed gratitude for the extraordinary amount of love, prayers and support they received following Harper’s death.
A Rockco Funeral Home listing identifies him as Robert “Harper” Foley, age 19. Dignity Memorial’s Centreville obituary index says he died following a brief illness.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Robert “Harper” Foley |
| Born | May 18, 2007 |
| Died | August 23, 2026 |
| Age | 19 |
| Residence | Dallas, Texas |
| Alabama connection | Brent and University of Alabama |
| College | University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa |
| Fraternity | Kappa Sigma, Beta Chapter |
| Parents | David Clifford Foley and Claire White Foley |
| Cause of death | Brief illness; specific condition not disclosed |
Who Was Harper Foley?
Harper Foley was born in Kansas City, Kansas, on May 18, 2007, to David Clifford Foley and Claire White Foley.
His father’s military career meant that Harper’s childhood looked very different from that of many other children.
Only weeks after he was born, the family moved to Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
That became the beginning of a childhood spent experiencing different parts of the United States.
Harper subsequently lived around military communities including Fort Hood in Texas, Carlisle Barracks in Pennsylvania and Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington.
He also spent time in Tampa, Florida, where the water became an important part of his childhood. He enjoyed fishing, boating and learning to wakeboard with his family.
Rather than allowing frequent moves to define him negatively, Harper repeatedly found new friendships and experiences wherever his family went.
Brent, Alabama, Was a Special Home
Among all the places Harper lived, Brent, Alabama, held a particularly important place in his life.
It was the home of his maternal grandparents, Judge James Mordecai White and Katherine Moseley White.
Harper and his cousins spent time there fishing, swimming and exploring together. Family memories included riding in their grandfather’s Kubota and enjoying the outdoors.
It was also in Alabama that Harper’s love for the Crimson Tide became an important family tradition.
His connection to the White family in Brent is independently documented in earlier family obituaries. Katherine White’s obituary identifies Claire White Foley and David Foley as her daughter and son-in-law and lists Robert Harper Foley among her grandsons.
The 2018 obituary for Judge James Mordecai White likewise names Robert Harper Foley among his grandchildren.
Those family roots help explain why Brent was chosen as the place where Harper would ultimately be laid to rest.
A Lifelong Love of Soccer
Soccer was one of the constants in Harper’s frequently changing childhood.
He began playing at around three years old and maintained that passion as his family moved between states.
The sport provided more than competition.
It gave Harper a way to form friendships and become part of a community whenever he arrived somewhere new.
Over the years, he played with teams and organisations including TC United, Tampa Bay United, Clarksville Soccer Club, Tampa Raiders and Toca FC.
He eventually attended Lansing High School in Kansas, where he played for the Lansing Lions and graduated in 2025.
His former teammates have been named honorary pallbearers for his funeral, reflecting how important those soccer relationships remained in his life.
Harper Foley at the University of Alabama
After his father’s retirement from the military, the Foley family settled in Dallas, Texas.
Harper then began another major chapter of his life when he enrolled at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
For a young man who had grown up loving the Crimson Tide, attending Alabama carried particular meaning.
He also pledged the Beta Chapter of Kappa Sigma Fraternity.
His family said the fraternity quickly gave Harper another sense of home and brotherhood.
The significance of those relationships can be seen in the funeral arrangements. Members of Kappa Sigma’s Beta Chapter will serve as honorary pallbearers, while several of Harper’s fraternity brothers and roommates have been chosen as pallbearers.
A Military Family and a Life of Adaptability
Harper’s upbringing was shaped in many ways by his family’s military service.
His father, retired U.S. Army Brigadier General David Clifford Foley, served throughout Harper’s childhood.
His paternal grandfather, retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General Robert Franklin Foley, is also part of the family’s military legacy.
Growing up in that environment meant repeated goodbyes, new schools and unfamiliar communities.
But Harper’s family remembers him as someone who adapted to those changes.
From playing near Mount Rainier in Washington to fishing from the pier at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida, he built memories across the country.
Each move became another part of a life that was geographically wide-ranging despite being tragically short.
Harper Foley’s Parents and Brothers
Harper is survived by his parents, David Clifford Foley and Claire White Foley.
He was the middle of three sons.
His older brother, Franklin Price Foley, 21, is a senior at the University of Alabama.
His younger brother, Alexander Gates Foley, 16, is a junior at Highland Park High School in Dallas.
Harper is also survived by his paternal grandparents, Robert Franklin Foley and Julie Teresa Foley, along with aunts, uncles, cousins and a large extended family.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Judge James Mordecai White and Katherine Moseley White, and his great-grandmother Katherine Claire Ivy.
What Was Harper Foley’s Cause of Death?
The Harper Foley cause of death has only been described publicly as a brief illness.
Dignity Memorial’s Centreville listing says the 19-year-old died following a brief illness but does not identify a particular disease or medical condition.
His mother’s initial statement similarly expressed that the family was short on answers while dealing with the unexpected loss.
It would therefore be inappropriate to speculate about a particular medical diagnosis.
Unless the family chooses to disclose additional information, the most accurate description is that Harper died following a brief health issue or illness.
Funeral and Celebration of Life in Brent
Harper’s family and friends will gather in Brent, Alabama, on Saturday, August 29, 2026, to remember his life.
Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at Brent Baptist Church, located at 2446 Main Street.
A Celebration of Life will immediately follow at 11:00 a.m., with the Reverend Dr. Jim Smith officiating.
Rockco Funeral Home independently confirms the visitation and 11 a.m. funeral service at Brent Baptist Church.
Burial is planned at Brent City Cemetery following the service.
Harper’s brothers Price and Gates, cousins and several fraternity brothers and roommates have been selected as pallbearers.
His Kappa Sigma brothers and former soccer teammates will serve as honorary pallbearers.
A Life That Found Home in Many Places
Harper Foley was only 19, but his life had already stretched across much of the country.
Kansas was his birthplace and eventually the place where he graduated from high school.
Military installations in Kentucky, Texas, Pennsylvania and Washington became childhood homes.
Florida gave him a love for life on the water.
Dallas became his family’s home after his father’s retirement.
Tuscaloosa gave him the University of Alabama and his Kappa Sigma brotherhood.
And Brent remained the place where generations of family memories were rooted.
That ability to find belonging wherever life took him is an important part of how Harper is being remembered.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Robert Harper Foley?
Robert “Harper” Foley was a 19-year-old University of Alabama student from a military family. He most recently lived in Dallas, Texas, and had deep family roots in Brent, Alabama. He was a Kappa Sigma fraternity member and lifelong soccer player.
What happened to Harper Foley?
Harper Foley died following a brief illness in August 2026. His obituary does not identify the specific medical condition, so no more detailed cause of death has been publicly established.
When is Harper Foley’s funeral?
Visitation is scheduled for Saturday, August 29, from 10 to 11 a.m. at Brent Baptist Church in Brent, Alabama. His funeral service will begin there at 11 a.m., followed by burial at Brent City Cemetery.
Conclusion
The Harper Foley obituary tells the story of a young man who learned early in life that home could exist in many different places.
Through the moves required by his father’s military service, Harper formed friendships across the country while maintaining his love for soccer, fishing, family and Alabama football. His journey eventually brought him to the University of Alabama, where he found another family among his Kappa Sigma fraternity brothers.
Harper’s death at just 19 has left his parents, brothers, relatives, teammates and friends confronting a loss they never expected.
On August 29, many of those people will come together in Brent—the Alabama community that always remained one of Harper’s deepest family homes—to celebrate his life and say goodbye.