Larry Melvin Pope

Larry Pope, 81, of Mesa, AZ, died on September 3, 2020. Larry was a beloved husband, father, stepfather, brother, uncle, cousin, and grandfather to five grandchildren. He will also be missed by many friends around the world.

Larry leaves behind his beloved wife and traveling companion of 31 years, Connie Pope, also of Mesa, AZ. He also leaves behind two daughters, Beth Ann Pope of McMinnville, Oregon, and Jill A. Pope of Portland, Oregon (husband Matthew Melton), and stepdaughters Janell Davidson of Issaquah, Washington and Jamie Lauterbach of Stromberg, Germany. He was a beloved Opa to Ricky and Alec (Janell), Tara and

Merlin (Jamie), and Samantha (Jill).

Larry was preceded in death by his first wife, Jo Vrooman Pope,

in 1988; his father Melvin Pope in 1991, and his mother Marian Pope in 2007. He is

survived by his sister Linda Pope Knotts and her husband Don Knotts, of

Hillsboro, Oregon, niece Jennifer Knotts Claus, and nephew Pat Knotts.

Larry Melvin Pope was born to Marian and Melvin Pope on March 21, 1939, in Olympia, Washington; the family lived on a farm. When Larry was 11, the family moved to Warrenton, Oregon when Larry’s father was offered an opportunity to become a worker-owner in a lumber mill. Larry attended Warrenton High School, excelling at basketball, baseball, and track. Larry played for a baseball team, Seaside Post 99, that traveled to California in 1956 to become Connie Mack World Series West Coast Champions. He graduated in 1957 and attended Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon where he also played baseball. At Pacific, he met and later married Linda “Jo” Vrooman (1962).

Larry got his teaching credentials at the University of Oregon. He began working at Reynolds High School in Troutdale, Oregon in 1963, where he taught social studies for 33 years. He also coached baseball at Reynolds.

In 1982, Larry was awarded the Fulbright Exchange Scholarship, which enabled teachers from different countries to trade jobs for one year. He and Jo, and their two daughters, Beth and Jill, spent a year in England where Larry taught at Hinchingbrooke School, in Huntingdon. Meanwhile, a social studies teacher from Hinchingbrooke School, Denise Stokoe, taught at Reynolds. That year, Larry and Jo were invited to Buckingham Palace to meet with the Queen Mum, Elizabeth I, at a garden party held for Fulbright scholars. Larry also took a group of students to visit Russia. The Pope family traveled widely that year, and returned home to Oregon in the fall of 1983. Just five years later, Larry lost his beloved wife Jo to cancer.

In 1989, Larry married Connie Libonati of Gresham, Oregon. Together, and with the help of many friends, Larry and Connie built a beautiful home in Boring, Oregon, where they lived for many years. Connie taught French and German in the Reynolds district with Larry and followed his 1996 retirement with her own. After that, the couple traveled widely in Europe, Africa, and Asia, often on trips organized by the Phoenix Zoo, where Connie now volunteers. They had homes in Bend and Gresham, Oregon as well as Mesa, Arizona.

In Mesa, where they ultimately stayed, they made many friends in their community. Larry was part of a Tuesday men’s breakfast group and a member of the community book club, where he was the only male. He was often outspoken about its reading choices and frequently added historical context for other members. Larry was well loved by his friends and neighbors. He was fondly regarded as a favorite curmudgeon; he was often witty and had a vast knowledge of facts. He was a devoted Jeopardy watcher and was adept at Trivial Pursuit, frequently answering all six questions on the card with little effort. He remained devoted to baseball, attending Diamondbacks games and following the Seattle Mariners. He was a lifelong Blazer fan and became a Phoenix Suns fan as well.

Larry was an aficionado of Western culture. His read widely, but his favorite book was Lonesome Dove, by Larry McMurtry. In music, he enjoyed Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, The Highwaymen, Kenny Rogers, and The Eagles.

Larry’s life philosophy was to be as pragmatic and drama-free as possible. The phrase “It's too far from your heart to kill you” was often heard while the girls were growing up. However, there was a loving heart of gold beneath the surface, which his grandchildren often witnessed. He will be much missed and never forgotten as our hero.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society. In addition, Larry loved to garden, tending his plants and his trees.

Please plant a tree in honor of Larry as a remembrance. A celebration of life will be planned at a later date in the Portland area.