James J. Pope

James J. Pope, 78, passed away at his home in Corona del Mar, February 5th, after a long illness.

Mr. Pope was born in Akron, Ohio May 16, l930, and had lived in the Corona del Mar area for 37 years, after being transferred from Dearborn, MI to Ford Motor Company’s, Aerospace Division, in Labor Relations, to Newport Beach in 1971. He was with Ford Motor Co. for 34 years, retiring in 1988. Prior to working for Ford, he was signed out of high school with the Boston Braves, and played in the Boston and Milwaukee Braves and Cleveland Indians organizations for part of six years, interrupted for 22 months to service our country in the Marines, in the Korean War.

Survived by his wife Marlene of 26 years; daughter, Nancy and husband Steve Nelson of Newport Beach; son James R. and wife Leesa, of Garden Grove; daughter Susan L. Pope of Irvine and stepdaughter, Suzanne Graham, of Venice; one granddaughter, Sarah Pope and son Phoenix, of Costa Mesa; grandson Charles R. of St.Croix V.I.; sister Patty Long of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; brothers Robert R. and wife Patty Pope, Charles and wife Karen Pope all of Uniontown, Ohio; brother-in-law Tony and wife Linda Aulino, of Bath, Ohio. There are also, many nieces and nephews in the Ohio/Michigan area.

Mr. Pope had belonged to PGA West Golf Club in La Quinta, Ca, where they spent their winters for thirteen years and the Newport Beach Country Club.

The family requests memorials to the Orange County Chapter, Alzheimer’s Research, 17771 Cowan, Suite 200, Irvine, Ca. 92614-6067

There will be a private memorial service.