Tom Franklin Pope

Tom Pope entered into eternal rest on June 27, 2011, at his home in Brownsville with his wife, Wanda, by his side.

Tom was born on Dec. 20, 1931, in the town of Leonard, Texas. In 1939, the Pope family moved to Dallas where he received his education. Following his graduation in 1949 from Sunset High School, Tom was drafted into the army and served in Germany. With flying in his blood, he later took flying lessons and graduated from the Air Force Aviator Cadet Program in 1956. Tom proudly served in the Air Force for 20 years, during which time he earned nine medals including the Distinguished Flying Cross. His foreign service included Germany, Greenland, Alaska and Vietnam.

Major Pope retired in 1974 and at that time moved his family to Carrollton, Texas. After his military retirement, Tom was employed at Omega Optical in Dallas.

On Dec. 6, 1986, he married Wanda Powell in Las Vegas, Nev., and they moved to Irving, Texas, and later to Grand Prairie, Texas. In 1993, Tom and Wanda moved to Brownsville. They enjoyed the company of numerous golfing friends at Valley International Country Club where he was a member of the Cactus Club.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Floyd Pope and Tommie Gray Pope of Dallas; a son, Duane Pope; a brother, Charles Robert Pope; and a sister, Barbara Flo Pope.

Tom is survived by his loving wife, Wanda; his daughters, Vanessa (Larry) Myrick of Trophy Club, Texas, and Tommie Belz of Steamboat Springs, Colo.; a daughter-in-law, Tina Pope, of Broken Bow, Okla.; a sister-in-law, Cathy Pope of San Jose, Calif.; four grandchildren, Lindsey (Paul) Cain, Victoria Belz and twins Zachary and Emily Pope; and two great-grandchildren, Macy and DeNali Pope.

In accordance with Tom's wishes he was cremated. Memorial services will be held at Valley International Country Club in Brownsville this fall with the date to be determined. Part of Tom's cremains will remain at home with Wanda and the other part will be laid to rest at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery.

Memorial gifts in Tom's name may be made to Odyssey Healthcare of South Texas, 2501 Paredes Line Rd., Suite B-9, Brownsville, TX 78526, or the American Cancer Society of the Rio Grande Valley, 5413 S. McColl Rd., Edinburg, TX 78539.

You may view the obituary, sign the guestbook and send condolences online to the Pope family at www.darlingmouser.com.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Darling-Mouser Funeral Home, 945 Palm Blvd., Brownsville, TX. Phone 956-546-7111.