Colonel Retired Walter Vergil Pope

Colonel Retired Walter Vergil Pope, age 85, of Kingsport, passed away on Tuesday, October 30, 2012 at Indian Path Medical Center. Walter was born in Bristol, TN, graduated from Tennessee High School and attended Georgia Tech University. He joined the U.S. Army in 1950 and was a graduate of Officer Candidate School. In 1953 he left active duty, at which time he cofounded Pope-Robinette Insurance Agency with his brother-in-law, I.H. Robinette, Jr. He became Commander of the 639th Transportation Corps Reserve Unit in Kingsport, leading them to active duty to Fort Meade, MD in 1961. He served in two hardship tours, Korea and Vietnam. His greatest achievement was as commander and project manager for all Army watercraft serving in Okinawa and St. Louis. He remained on active duty until retirement in 1978. He received numerous awards while on active service, most notably the Distinguished Member of the Transportation Corps Regiment by order of the Secretary of the Army.

Walter was a member of Kingsport Sertoma Club, where he took great pride and pleasure in chairing the Concession Stand for the Appalachian District Fair for 30 years. He was chairman of Providence Cemetery Committee for nearly 15 years. Walter was a member of Colonial Heights United Methodist Church.

He was a great man, soldier, loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He has left his family and future generations a great legacy. His family celebrates his life and homecoming, knowing there was great rejoicing from above.

Walter was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest Franklin and Nell Cole Pope.

He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Sue Robinette Pope; daughters, Tanya Pope Samples, and Mona Pope Sitton and husband, Stephen; grandchildren, Jennifer Samples, Kristina Sitton Crosetto, Hayley Sitton Satrom, and Andrew Samples; great-grandchildren, Noah Crosetto, Sophia Crosetto, and Hannah Sue Satrom; sister, Audrey Pope Whittamore; and nieces, Vickie Whittamore Massey and Kathy Whittamore Broce.

The family will receive friends on Friday, November 2nd, from 5-7:00 pm at Hamlett-Dobson, Kingsport.

Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, November 3rd at 2:00 pm at Marion Robinette Primitive Baptist Church with Rev. John Arnott officiating. He will lie in state from 1-2:00 pm. Burial will follow in the Providence Cemetery, on Hwy 70, 8 miles south of Rogersville. Military graveside rites will be conducted by the Tennessee National Guard.

Honorary pallbearers will be Larry Fuller, Danny Massey, Allen Pope, Gary Pope, Andrew Samples, Steve Sitton, Rob Satrom, Ron Scheusner, Billy Jeff Burns, I.H. Robinette, Jr., Billy Robinette and John Trinkle.

Memorial contributions can be made to Colonial Heights United Methodist Church, 631 Lebanon Road, Kingsport, TN 37663, or Marion Robinette Primitive Baptist Church, or Providence Cemetery, c/o Ruth Robinette, Sleepy Hollow Rd., Greeneville, TN.