Lawrence “Larry” Pope, 88, was born on May 12, 1937, in Washington, DC, to the late Otis A. and Ruby (Trail) Pope and passed away peacefully on December 30, 2025, in Tyler, Texas.
Mr. Pope graduated from Washington and Lee High School in Arlington, Virginia. He went to West Virginia University where he met his future wife in the choir. He graduated with a degree in agricultural science. He went on to get his master’s degree in experimental statistics.
He wanted to follow in his father’s, Otis A. Pope, PhD, footsteps so he also went to work with the United States Department of Agriculture. He was drafted into the U.S. Army, and after two years of active duty he returned to the USDA.
His career filled his life with wonderful friends and co-workers. After his retirement, he went to work with USAID teaching statistics in crop sampling and forecasting in Egypt and Morocco. He was an active member of the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. He loved to teach. He enjoyed “moonlighting” as an adjunct professor at several colleges, including FTU/UCF in Orlando, Florida.
He and his wife, Sandra, spent their summers in Fort Seybert.
He was a member of Living Faith Church in Franklin and was active with the Fort Seybert Heritage Education Association. He also assisted his wife with the Cemetery Identification and Preservation Project in Pendleton County and her books on the Pope and Cowger Genealogies.
In 2019 they moved to Texas full time. He was a member of Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas. He enjoyed singing in the choir and attending their senior Sunday School classes.
His wife, Sandra Pope, preceded him in death.
Left to cherish his memory are his son, Steven Pope and wife, Leigh of Ohio; daughter, Cynthia Adams and husband, Kenneth of Frankston, Texas; a son, Christopher Pope and wife, Becky of New Zealand; a sister, Janet Emerson and husband, Derrel of Georgia; sisters-in-law, Sally Niezgoda and husband, Gary of West Virginia, and Bonnie Snyder Earp of Virginia; grandchildren, Rachael, Lianna, Emma-Leigh, Catherine, Marian, Taylor, Kennie, Zachery, Brianna, and Caleb; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was also preceded in death by a sister, Irene Pope Michael.
In keeping with his wishes, no services will be held.
Rather than customary condolences, the family requests donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org. If one would like to reach out to the family, please contact the funeral home.
Arrangements were entrusted to Autry Funeral Home in Frankston, Texas.
