John Richard “Dick” Pope, 88, of Saint Louis, MO peacefully went to be with the Lord on February 6, 2019. Born in Petersburg, VA to Fannie Elizabeth (nee Smith) and Joseph Thomas Pope Sr. Served in the United States Army during the Korean War. Mr. Pope met his future wife, Sylvia, a fellow student at Kentucky State College, now University. They married in December 1956. In 1958, Mr. Pope graduated from Kentucky State College with a bachelor’s degree in History and became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Mr. Pope and family relocated to Louisville where he taught special education students. In 1968, the family relocated to St. Louis with Pfizer. In the early 1970s, Mr. Pope began teaching social studies in the St. Louis Public Schools (Beaumont, McKinley, Work Study, Health Careers, and Vashon), retiring in 1990. Mr. Pope was a Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (Epsilon Lambda Chapter) having served in several leadership roles throughout the Midwest Region. Member of First Baptist Church of Creve Coeur. Survived by wife Sylvia (nee Beeler) Pope, daughters Karen Pope Butler and Kamille Pope, grandchildren Kenneth Butler of New York, Michael (Erin) Butler of Saint Louis, Mark Butler of Saint Louis, Erica Shoshana Butler (Doniel) Vaccianna of Chicago and Daniel Butler of Chicago, one great-granddaughter, brother James Pope of Petersburg, VA and numerous nieces and nephews throughout the country. Preceded in death by parents, brother Joseph Jr. (Mary survives, Wilmore, KY) and sister Mary.

In lieu of flowers and in alignment with Mr. Pope’s firm belief in higher education, please make a charitable gift in his memory to the Kentucky State University Foundation, Attn: Institutional Advancement, 400 East Main St, Academic Services Building Suite 261, Frankfort, KY 40601, or online here, or Epsilon Lambda Charitable Foundation, PO Box 78301, Saint Louis, MO 63178.

Private interment. Memorial service at later date. Services provided by St. Louis Cremation.