H. Ray Pope's Obituary
H. Ray Pope, well-known attorney of Clarion, PA and retired Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Clarion County, died on June 12, 2014 in Fort Myers, Florida, where he and his late wife, Mary Louise had resided since 1980. He was 97 years of age. Judge Pope was born Henry Ray Pope, Jr., on October 17, 1916, the second son of his parents, Henry Ray and Gail Bigelow Pope. He grew up in Franklin, Pennsylvania and graduated from Franklin High School in 1934. While a student there, he participated in football, debate, dramatics, was Joke Editor of the high school newspaper and was President of Hi Y Club. He then attended the Pennsylvania State University where he joined Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, was a member of the Thespians, the Debating Club and was track manager his senior year. He was a member of the Interfraternity Council and two honor societies: Blue Key, and Skull & Bones. This busy schedule, plus working his way through Penn State, did not prevent him from graduating in 1938 with both Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in four years without attending summer school. His Master’s Thesis, entitled, “The Ghost Towns of Venango County,” was a historical study of the Oil Boom days of the 1860s. Ray Pope was always active in the Penn State Alumni Association, being a Life Member of that group and a former Director of the Southwest Florida Chapter. Judge Pope entered and later graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1941. He began the practice of law as a member of the firm of Nesbit and Wasson in Franklin. In 1942, he was named Highway Counsel for the Pennsylvania Department of Highways, now PennDOT, and was later named Assistant Counsel to the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission. In 1945, Pope began the private practice of law in Clarion, in association with Judge Theo L. Wilson. For years, he was the County Solicitor for Clarion County and was the Borough Solicitor for the Boroughs of Clarion, Rimersberg and East Brady. A rapidly developing trial practice included trying many cases in several Northwestern Pennsylvanian counties. He was admitted to practice before the Pennsylvania Superior and Supreme Courts, before whom he frequently presented cases. He was also admitted to practice before the Federal District Court in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and the United States Supreme Court in Washington, DC. Judge Pope was Past-President of the Clarion County Bar Association and a former member of the House of Delegates of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. He had the unique honor of being named a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, as well as a Fellow in the American College of Probate Counsel. Ray Pope was a former Trustee, Elder, and Sunday School teacher at the First Presbyterian Church of Clarion. As Counsel for Clarion Chamber of Commerce, he was deeply involved in the first and many subsequent Autumn Leaf Festivals. He was a former Kiwanian and active in a host of community projects and charitable fund drives. He was a member and President of the Board of Trustees of Clarion State College, now Clarion University of Pennsylvania, for many years. Because of these many accomplishments, his name appeared in the “Who’s Who in the East” and “Who’s Who in the Law.” In 1995, Pope was named Clarion’s Citizen of the Year. Ray Pope’s two sons returned to Clarion to practice law with their father as his partners. In 1979, then Governor Richard Thornburgh appointed Pope to the bench as Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Clarion County. Pope retired in 1980 and he and his wife, Mary Louise, moved their primary residence to Fort Myers, Florida, but always returned to the Old Stone House in Clarion for the summer months. Ray and Mary Louise traveled extensively. They had visited nearly every country in the world; were four times to China and had many trips to Portugal, their favorite destinations. The Popes were also avid duplicate bridge players. Since retirement, Judge Pope had written and published three books. The first, “Tear It Down and/or He Must Be a Damn Fool,” tells the story of the rebuilding of the Old Stone House, the only home he and his beloved wife ever had in Clarion. The second, “My Lady, a Unique Story of Love,” is the story of his seventy-two year love affair with his wife, Mary Louise. The third, “The Journey” is his autobiography. Preceding Judge Pope in death are his wife, Mary Louise Smith Pope; his parents, Henry Ray and Gail Bigelow Pope; his elder brother and his younger sister, Gail Patterson Fellows. Judge Pope is survived by his two sons, Henry Ray “Terry” Pope, III and his wife Barbara of Clarion, and Kent Smith Pope of Clarion; his granddaughter, Andrea Pope Needham and her husband Kevin of Cleveland Heights, Ohio; his grandsons, Kent S. “Kip” Pope of Springville, New York, and Kirk M. Pope and his wife Briana of Arlington, Virginia. He is also survived by his four great grandchildren, Isabella Needham and Brayden, Gavin and Ria Pope. The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to one of the following organizations: (1) The Permanent Memorial Endowment Fund (PMEF) of the First Presbyterian Church of Clarion, 700 Wood St. Clarion, PA 16214, (2) The Salvation Army, PO Box 60087, Fort Myers, FL 33906, or (3) Habitat for Humanity, 1288 N. Tamiami Trail, North Fort Myers, FL 33906. As per Judge Pope’s wishes and instructions, there will be no viewing or visitation. A service celebrating the life of Judge H. Ray Pope, Jr. will be held on Friday, June 20, 2014 at 1:30 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Clarion with Rev. Scott Hauser, pastor, presiding. A celebration of his life following the service will be held at the Holiday Inn in Clarion immediately following the service. Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Funeral Home is serving the family. Online condolences and remembrances may be sent at www.fortmyersmemorial.com.
What’s your fondest memory of H.?
What’s a lesson you learned from H.?
Share a story where H.'s kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with H. you’ll never forget.
How did H. make you smile?