Robert W. (Bob) Pope, Sr.

January 21, 1933 – March 27, 2008

 

Robert W. (Bob) Pope, Sr., beloved husband, father and devoted grandfather “Poppy”, age 75,

Tung Belt District Boy Scout Commissioner and retired Chief Pilot for Chevron,

died peacefully at home on Thursday, March 27th following a courageous battle with pulmonary fibrosis.

 

He was born January 21, 1933 in Detroit, Michigan to the late William Marlon and Dorothy Alice Pope.   

His family later moved to Angie, Louisiana where Bob grew up on the family farm and graduated from Angie High School in 1951.    

 

Bob served in the U.S. Navy and was stationed at Ellison Field in Pensacola, Florida as a helicopter mechanic.

On June 20, 1954, he was united in marriage to his sweetheart, Joyce Carpenter in Bogalusa, Louisiana.

 

In 1962, Bob and Joyce moved to New Orleans, Louisiana where they raised their two children

and where in 1966 Bob found a passion for the Boy Scouts of America organization.  

 

Bob moved his family to McNeill, Mississippi in 1974 and started a new Boy Scout troop.

Bob gave 42 years of volunteer service to the Boy Scouts in both New Orleans (Troop 87) and later in McNeill (Troop 81).   

With a passion for teaching young boys to become young men and a love of the outdoors,

Bob was able to touch the lives of many youth through his love of Scouting.    

 

He enjoyed sharing his passion with his son, Bob, Jr. an Eagle Scout and grandson, Ryan as well.

  

In 1988 Bob was invited to assist in the writing of the 10th edition Boy Scout Handbook and

was always willing to go wherever he was needed to spread the benefits of being a Scout

because he knew the value of living by the ‘Scout Oath’.   

 

Last year Bob was awarded the ‘Silver Beaver’ Award from the Boy Scouts of America’s National Council

for his lifetime of service to youth.

 

Mr. Pope was employed by Chevron USA and had a 28 year career as a helicopter pilot and

retired as Chief Pilot for the company.   

 

During the Christmas holidays, since 1966 up until December 2007, he loved being Santa Claus

to an endless line of eager children waiting to make their requests. 

 

For recreation Bob enjoyed his weekly golf games with longtime friends. 

He had an undying love for his Lord, his family and his many friends and will be truly missed.

 

Bob is survived by his loving wife, Joyce, his son, Bob Jr. and his wife, Lin, of Carriere, Ms.,

his daughter, Donna and her husband, Mark Vincler, of Brentwood, TN,

and two grandchildren, Ryan Pope and Aubrey Swander.   

 

He is further survived by his brothers and their wives,

Bill and Bonnie Pope, Tacoma, Washington and Dudley and Sam Pope, Mt. Dora, Florida.

 

A ‘Celebration of Life’ will be held at 2:00 PM, Sunday, March 30 at the Picayune Funeral Home,

followed by a gravesite memorial at Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

 

 

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Bob Pope’s name may be made to the ‘Boy Scouts of America’,

1318 Hardy Street, Hattiesburg, MS 39401.

 

The Pope Family would like to thank Trinity Hospice for their help and compassionate support.