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<p><em>Donald Raymond “Don” Pope</em> was born in Catlettsburg, KY to his parents, Homer Ross and Elizabeth (Johnson) Pope, a beloved one-room schoolteacher. The apple of his mother’s eye, he was a dedicated student and lover of all sports. When he was 12, his family packed up with his younger sister, Ann, and moved to Fort Myers in south Florida. He continued to make excellent grades, play football, basketball, and baseball for the Fort Myers High School Green Waves and was the captain of the swim team, as well as the senior class president and voted “Most Likely to Succeed.” After graduating in 1952, Don was accepted to the University of Florida, where he started his college career in Gainesville, FL; however, different plans were in the making. </p>
<p>With his good grades and determination, Don was called to the military service in 1953 after appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He graduated in 1957 and continued his call throughout the next 20 years. His first tour of duty started at Schofield Barracks in Honolulu, HI, where he was part of the 65th Engineering Battalion and where his eldest two children (Sandra J. and Teresa L.) were born. After earning his Master of Engineering from Texas A&M University in 1962, he had a short stop at Fort Riley near Junction City, KS, working as engineer at the Milford Dam. Don’s next adventure was near the South Pole in Antarctica, where he worked with the Seabees at McMurdo Station as an engineer for the Naval Support Force and eventually even had a glacier named for him (Pope Glacier), which is located on the Walgreen Coast on Marie Byrd Land. Home with a suitcase full of penguin slides and plenty of tales in time for the addition of his third born, Donna E., he found himself back at “The Point,” serving as a teacher of statics and dynamics with Colonel Norman Schwartzkopf as Department Head of Mechanics. His students often quivered at the sound of his name, while he apparently inherited curious skills from his mother, the adored teacher. (Don’t try falling asleep in his class or an eraser may be in your sight!) “It’s EASY; it’s a REVIEW” was his trademark quote. </p>
<p>All good things come to an end, however, as next stop was Vietnam. In 1971 he was assigned the role of area engineer and then senior engineer advisor to Military Assistant Command, Vietnam with his station in DaNang. Later, he received a commendation letter for his leadership role from the Superintendent of USMA, whom he cherished. Post homecoming from Vietnam, he was sent off to Fort Leavenworth, KS and attended the Command and General Staff College in 1971 and then across the pond to become the commander of the 549th Engineering Battalion in Schwetzingen, Germany at Thompkins Barracks, 1972-75. Don completed his career with the Army in Mobile, AL as deputy district engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, for which he worked dutifully on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Project for three years. During this time he married the love of his life, Garnette Lynn Game. Don retired from the U.S. military in 1979, but his career was far from over. With his wife, Lynn, he moved across the continent to Yuma, AZ to become the district head of the Yuma Water Users’ Association for the next two decades, where he was deeply connected to the community and served on the planning and zoning committee, as well as on the agricultural boards. Don and Lynn eventually retired, this time for good in 2005, settling in Tucson, AZ. Not staying idle for long, Don was an active and loving grandfather to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Alongside working on his golf game, he enjoyed cooking and feeding others with several of “Don’s Recipes,” including his famous salsa, Spanish bean soup, and a killer brisket on the barbecue. Don and Lynn spent their retirement years traveling and setting off on many trips to the beach with family and good friends. </p>
<p>Don passed away on March 12, 2023 with his wife, Lynn, and family at his bedside. He is survived by his wife, Garnette Lynn Game Pope; his children: Sandra Pope Vantrease (David), Teri Pope Mohler (Keith), Donna E. Pope Waite (Anthony), Cyndy McGuire, Belinda Brokaw Colwell, and Rob Brokaw; and his numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Don was predeceased by his sister, Ann Pope Graham Popp, and daughter Donna Brokaw Barringer. </p>
<p>Don will forever be remembered as the one who steered the ship. He was a hard worker and persistent; what he lacked in gifts (although he had plenty), he made up for with determination and perseverance. He truly loved his time at West Point and will be forever an example of Duty, Honor, Country. We are all better for knowing and loving him. </p>
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