Jerry was born in Godwin North Carolina on 16 December 1934. His early life was growing up in Dunn, North Carolina, where he was active in sports. He was especially fond of baseball playing in the local Knee Pant League. Jerry graduated from Dunn High School in 1953 and soon after joined the Air Force.
He attended various schools, training as an Aircraft Radio Communications Repairman. He served at several stateside locations and in the Azores and at RAF Lakenheath in England. Jerry left the Air Force in 1957 and soon after enrolled at NC State University into the School of Engineering. Here Jerry pursued his passion of Electronics graduating in 1962 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. He worked at various companies during his career to include Motorola, Metrotech & Aerotron. It was at Metrotech that he met the love of his life, Janet. Jerry developed an industry reputation for building and developing Single Side Band Radio (SSB) for long range communications. This was in the era prior to Cellphones and the Internet. Jerry also did consult work for various companies to include the Home Security Systems industry.
Jerry retired in 2000 and pursued his lifelong hobbies of Amateur Radio Communication (HAM), and flying Radio-controlled aircraft. His call sign for his Ham Radio operation was W4YRY. He was a person of many talents and loved to tinker with his hands and to build things. Jerry was also a rabid NC State Wolfpack fan, attending many athletic events or watching games in his den in front of his Big Screen TV. Jerry and Janet loved animals and had many canine pets throughout the years.
Jerry is survived by his wife of 58 years Janet Green Pope. His sister Carol Byrd (Walter) of Dunn, NC. His Nieces Judy Griffin, Carol Paquin (Croix), and nephews Barry Horne (Rebeca), Kent Horne, Randy Horne (Stephanie), Cam Byrd (Kim) and Alan Fann (Cindy).
Jerry is predeceased by his father Atwood “Boll Weevil’ Pope, Mother Lila Rhye Pope, Brother Ray, Sisters Faye Fann, and Rachel Horne. Nephew Chris Byrd.
In lieu of flowers the family wishes donations would be made to ‘Saving Grace Animals for Adoption’ at www.savinggracenc.org.
A Funeral Service was held in the Mausoleum Chapel at Raleigh Memorial Park, with Military Honors to following. A Reception was held afterwards in the Reception Room at Mitchell Funeral Home (adjacent to the Cemetery).
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