John Charles Pope, Sr.

John C. Pope was born in Chattanooga Tn., raised in East Ridge and Acworth Ga. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps shortly after graduating high school in 1942, serving as a machine-gunner in D company/1st Battalion/24th Regiment/Fourth Marine Division. He landed at Kwajalein, Saipan, Tinian, and Iwo Jima. His youth and war years are chronicled in his book; “Angel on My Shoulder”, (available on Amazon Kindle).

After the war, John returned to Atlanta, earning a BA in Business Administration from Georgia State College in 1953, and a BA in Law from Woodrow Wilson College of Law in 1965.

In 1953, John married Betty Jane Turner from McDonough Ga. Together they raised son John Jr., and daughter Angela in the Atlanta suburbs. John and Betty were very happily married for 63 years. They were founding members of Northwoods United Methodist Church.

After 25 years as an accountant with Tennessee Corp. and Cities Service Oil Co, John ventured into the residential construction industry, eventually owning his own company and building numerous homes around north Atlanta until his retirement in 1990. John and Betty moved to Destin Fl in 1995, joined Destin United Methodist Church and became active in their community.

John Pope is survived by John Jr. of Miramar Beach, and daughter Angela Whittaker of Palm Beach, grandsons Douglas and Michael, and granddaughter Turner.

The family would like to sincerely thank friends, neighbors and church family whose love for Dad and dedication to his daily care truly made a difference in his life, and special thanks to the staffs of White Wilson Medical Center, Fort Walton Beach Medical Center, Covenant Care and Walgreens Destin for your superb professionalism.

A memorial service will be held for John Pope at Destin United Methodist Church on January 12, 2019 at 10AM.

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