William H. Pope

William Harold Pope, 88, of Bonne Terre passed away Monday, April 30 at Parkland Health Center. He was born August 9, 1923 in Olvey, Arkansas, the son of Wesley and Effie Mae (Bell) Pope. He lived in Eugene and DeSoto, MO before moving to Bonne Terre where his mother owned a boardinghouse on School Street. He was a resident of Bonne Terre for 75 years. Mr. Pope graduated from Bonne Terre High School. He joined the Army in 1943 and was part of the D-Day invasion, landing on Omaha Beach as part of the 149th Combat Engineers. He earned four Bronze Stars anda good conduct medal. He was honorably discharged in 1945. He married his high school sweetheart, Carmen Perrier, following his stint in the service and went to work for St. Joe Lead Co. In 1962 he took a position at Pea Ridge Iron Ore Co.in the accounting department and worked there until his retirement. Mr. Pope was preceded in death by his wife, parents and siblings. He is survived by all 10 of his children, his grandchildren and great grandchildren: Carmen Burrows, Gregory (Holly) Pope, Chris (Evette) Pope, Fran Zielinski, Kate (Tony) Hodel, Jennifer Heligman, Suzanne (Mark) Ferguson, Tim Pope, Joe (Melissa) Pope and Julianne (Randy) Edgar. Grandchildren are Heather Burrows, Meredith Burrows, Mark Pope, Andy (Amanda) Pope, Wesley Pope, Tyler Pope, Danielle Pope, Lucas Zielinski, Ana Zielinski, Kyle Zielinski, William Hodel, Lucy Hodel, Jillian Heligman Wilson, Zoe Heligman, Jessie Ferguson, Libby Ferguson, Sam Ferguson, Brandi Pope, Alec Pope, Michael Pope, Jack Pope, Kevin Edgar, Mindy Edgar, Ryan Edgar, Breyanne Edgar, Bradley Edgar. Great-grandchildren, Nora Burrows, Devin Pope, Eric Pope, Kylie Pope, Brooklin Pope, Jake Wilson, Hunter Wilson, Holden Edgar, Colton Edgar, Kristin Boyer, Rylee Boyer, Baylee Boyer. Visitation will be 4-8 pm on Thursday, May 3, 2012 at C. Z. Boyer and Son Funeral Home in Bonne Terre. A Mass of the Resurrection will be Friday at 2 pm at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Bonne Terre followed by interment in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the St. Joseph Catholic School in Bonne Terre.