Edward L. Pope

Edward L. Pope

The youngest of six children born to Jasper David and Mary Jane Pope, Edward made his grand entrance on June 25, 1928. He was born in Ralls, Texas. As the Great Depression deepened, the Pope family made their way to Elk City, Oklahoma. Edward attended primary and secondary school in Elk City. He was a member of the class of 1945; however, he joined the Navy at the tail end of WWII and missed his senior year. When the war ended, he was discharged and he came back to finish his high school education with the class of 1946.
After high school, Edward worked in a local garage and rode around Elk City on his Harley. An accident while working in the garage permanently blinded him in his left eye. Edward and his parents moved to Oklahoma City in the late 1940's, where Ed went to work as a civil servant at Tinker Air Force Base. He would spend the next 38 years of his working life at Tinker as an aircraft mechanic, inspector and quality control specialist.
Ed attended Shields Church of the Nazarene at S.E. 44th & Shields. It was there that he met Eva Dorsey, who on April 4, 1952, became his wife. Ed and Eva moved to the home that they would share for the next 50+ years in 1954. Their first daughter, Rebecca, was born in 1953. Ed attended night classes at Oklahoma City University while working full time and earned his Associates Degree in Business.
In 1955, in Madrid Spain, Maria Isabel was born and was abandoned by her birth parents. She was adopted from an orphanage by an American serviceman and his wife. They were stationed at Clinton Sherman Air Force Base in Clinton, OK. The family that brought her to the U.S. experienced a serious illness which made it difficult to keep Maria. The Pope's former pastor knew of their desire for another child and contacted them about the possibility of adopting Maria. The Pope's were thrilled and moved quickly to secure the adoption. Ed initiated proceedings to get Maria's US citizenship in the early 1960's.
The girls grew up, married and had families of their own eventually making Ed grandfather to six, and great-grandfather to twelve.
Ed retired from Tinker Air Force Base around 1985. He kept busy working on cars, researching geneology, serving others and the church, traveling some, and spending time with kids and grandkids. He served as Church Treasurer at Shields Church of the Nazarene for 40 years, as well as holding various positions of leadership in the local church. He was also a loyal OU football fan.
Eva passed away in 2004. In 2005, Ed married Audyne Willogene Chamberlain, who had also lost her husband. Willogene moved to Oklahoma City from California where they lived in the house Ed had purchased in 1954.
Ed is survived by his wife, Willogene; daughter Becki Rose and husband Johnny; daughter Maria Bonner and husband Wes. Grandchildren: Julia Fellers and husband David; Jon Rose and wife Loren; Matt Rose and wife Kelly; Derric Bonner; Brandi Holmes and husband Steve; Stephany Cobb and husband Matt. Great-grandchildren: Cole, Mason, Grant and Jenna Fellers; Hope, Michael and Tommy Rose; Jake Rose; Kenedy Bonner; Carson and Isabella Holmes; Lexi Cobb; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and one step-son. He was preceeded in death by his parents, Jasper David and Mary Jane Pope; wife Eva; brothers Cager and J.D.; sisters Mary, Zillie May and Leattis.