Harry Pope
1932 – 2025
Harry Pope, 92, of Coconut Creek, Florida, died at home on June 29, 2025, with his wife and daughters around him.
Harry was born in Bainbridge, GA on December 2,1932, to James B. and Bernice Pope, and grew up in Miami. Harry graduated from Miami Jackson High School and married Anne (Cowart), the love of his life, in 1952. He joined the Army, and he and Anne spent two blissful years at Harry’s post in Hawaii before returning to Florida.
Harry was a successful businessman, starting two exterminating companies that operated in Broward and Dade counties, where his integrity, persistence and good nature earned him the respect and trust of his employees and hundreds of clients over decades.
Harry was a devoted Christian, a Sunday School teacher and churchman, a gracious friend to many in church and community, and a kind and generous presence to all he met. He was an exemplary family man – a devoted son and brother, an affectionate and hardworking husband and father, and the delightful “Grandaddy” to his adoring grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Harry was preceded in death by his parents, James B. and Bernice Pope; siblings James Pope Jr., June Kotewa, Myra Reames, Marguerite Reames and Joann Lawter. He is survived by his wife, Anne Pope; his children, Natalie Hendrick, Vicki Selles (Kurt), Tricia Wagner (Kurt), and Bonnie Arendale (John); his grandchildren, Andrew Hendrick, Joel Hendrick (Candace), Rebecca Wolfe (Andy), Ben Hendrick, Hannah Selles (Robert Murtha), Owen Selles, Luke Selles, Mercy Smircich, Ethan Smircich, Judah Eshleman (Emily Kay), Naomi Cottrelle (Eben); and his great grandchildren – Micah Smircich, Annabel, IlaMae, Eleanor, and Matilda Hendrick, Rylee and Avery Wolfe, Agnes Murtha, Stella Kay, and Harry Cottrelle.
Harry will be laid to rest at the South Florida National Cemetery in Lake Worth, FL.
A celebration of Harry’s life is planned for the afternoon of September 20, 2025, in Coconut Creek. Contact Bonnie Arendale for more details. barendale2@gmail.com
Please share your memories of Harry in the condolences section below.
Coconut Creek
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Martha Condra
July 15, 2025, 7:10 pm
To Harry’s wife and children. I am so sorry about my cousin passing away. I ‘m also sorry that we lost contact with each other as we got older. He was a gentle soul. Very sweet, and I know how he lived the Lord. I don’t know if you knew or heard of my Mother, Beulah(Pope) Mitchell. But she was one of the sisters of Uncle J.B. Pope, Harry’s Dad.
Please know how sorry I am about his passing. I wish I could go to the Memorial Service, but I live in Tallahassee and don’t travel much anymore. May you feel the loving arms of Jesus around you at this sad time.
Tricia Wagner
July 17, 2025, 5:02 pm
Thank you, Martha, for your kind words. Yes, our daddy was indeed a sweet and gentle soul. I was 10 yrs old when we went to a family reunion in Bainbridge GA. I’m sure your mother, ‘Aunt Beulah’ was among the hospitable ‘great aunts’ we met there. Perhaps you were there too. Anyway, thanks again for your thoughtfulness during this sad time.
Natalie Hendrick
July 18, 2025, 3:23 am
Thank you, Martha! What a sweet remembrance. I do remember meeting your mother, Aunt Beulah, at a house in Miami. Maybe it was your house? Anyway, I know Daddy loved his dear Aunts and cousins, and had fond memories of them all. And yes, he did love the Lord, and felt himself to be especially blessed. We miss him!
Mercy Smircich
July 25, 2025, 12:48 am
Grandaddy was good-natured, generous, dutiful, kind, funny, affectionate, spiritual, and soooo handsome! I am eternally grateful for his attention, and affection in my life when I was a little girl, and for the unconditional acceptance he showed me as I got older.
I will never forget the way his hairy chest felt when I sat on his lap. I will never forget the sound of his voice reading me my favorite stories. I will never forget the way he smelled when I hugged him, or the shininess of his balding head. Most of all I will never forget the sound of his laughter,
My Grandaddy was the most fun person to be around and I have a million fun and special memories of time spent with him over the years.
I am blessed to have been loved by him and I am honored to be granddaughter.
Joey Hartung
July 27, 2025, 2:37 pm
With my deepest condolences and prayers for your loss of your dad. He was a very personable man and a very respectful young man. Harry and Anne were the first couple I met when I moved here to Wynmoor. My heartfelt sympathy to all the family.
Tricia Wagner
July 28, 2025, 4:03 pm
Thanks, Joey. My parents really liked having you as their neighbor.
Karen Lawter Biggs
August 1, 2025, 2:47 am
The passing of Harry Pope to heaven leaves a large, many facited void here on earth, yet heaven is rejoicing.
Uncle Harry is a very special man. Kind, loving, generous, patient, honest, cheerful, joyful, peaceful faithful, lover of God, …
I am blessed to know him. You his immediate family are blessed to claim him and know him more than I.
Harry, the last of JB, and Bernice Popes’ children to leave us. Because of them, because of our parents we are family. I am thankful.
May each of you enjoy your bond of love as you remember your life because of Harry Pope.
Tricia Wagner
August 1, 2025, 3:25 pm
Thanks so much for your kind and comforting words, Karen.