Cynthia Lynn (Welch) Pope

Cynthia Lynn (Welch) Pope of El Campo passed from this life to her eternal home with her Savior and loved ones on July 20, 2024. Cynthia was born on May 7, 1933, in O'Donnell, Texas to Paul Welch and Veva (Nichols) Welch. The family moved to Jacksonville, Texas, where she attended all twelve years of school, graduating from Jacksonville High School in 1951 as class president. She married Garland (Happy) Pope on May 22, 1951, immediately prior to his deployment to the 25th Infantry Division, which was engaged in combat in Korea. Cynthia lived with her parents in Jacksonville while Happy was deployed, working at the Jacksonville Daily Progress as a linotype machine operator. The Army then assigned Sergeant and Mrs. Pope to Fort Lawton in Seattle, Washington, where she used her recently acquired skills to secure a job with a Seattle newspaper. Their stay in Seattle was short, but memorable for an East Texas girl, as the couple was quickly granted a compassionate reassignment to Fort Hood, Texas secured by Senator Lyndon Johnson, due to the failing health of her father-in-law. After leaving the service, Happy and Cynthia moved to Houston, where Cynthia had four children before the family moved to El Campo in January 1965. The couple raised their children in El Campo with one or more of their kids attending El Campo High School for 15 consecutive years (1967-1982). She was a true Ricebird fan, actively supporting her children's participation in the band, football, derby dolls, cheerleading, basketball, little league, drama, class projects, and many other activities. Cynthia accepted Jesus as her personal savior at Central Baptist Church, in Jacksonville, Texas at the age of nine. A commitment to an active faith guided her through the rest of her life. She served and ministered in all the churches she attended, teaching children, teenagers and young adults at Memorial Baptist and First Baptist Churches in El Campo. (Several current members of FBC note that they joined the church because of their participation in her young couples class.) She was a mentor before mentors were cool, but she was officially the senior "mentor Mom" for the very active Mothers of Pre-schoolers organization (MOPS) at First Baptist, Allen. Cynthia focused all her energies on being a mother and homemaker until her youngest child began school when she began working again--part time at first and then full time. She returned to the work force in 1971 as a bookkeeper for JT Little Accounting and later the Elmer Neumann, CPA firm. She left to assist her husband in the Garland Pope Insurance Agency and subsequently worked at Ely Furniture in El Campo. After the couple moved to San Antonio in 1987, she worked as the accounting manager and office manager at Coleman Insurance Company. She retired to Allen, Texas in 2001 and returned to El Campo in 2017. In recent weeks, the family has heard from many people about what Cynthia meant to them. The theme running through these testimonials was her extraordinary empathy. Several noted that "she always said the right thing to help me feel better." This empathy for others grew from an attempt to love everyone, and that intentionality about love had its roots in her constant attention at "putting feet to her faith." "Walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up , an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma."(Ephesians 5:2) Whether we knew her as Cynthia, Mom, Grandma, Gigi or Aunt Cynthia, her life was a life of practicing what this verse teaches by loving and supporting not only her family, but all who crossed her path. While we know she is not suffering and with loved ones in heaven, selfishly we grieve knowing that no one else will ever love us the same way she did. Cynthia was preceded in death by her parents, husband, daughter Cindy Pope Dennis, sisters Celia Welch Haberle and Danna Welch Pope, and many other cherished family members. She is survived by her three children J. Paul (Pamela) Pope of El Campo, Texas; Allan (Terri) Pope of Richmond, Texas; and Lisa (Jeff) Humphrey of Denison, Texas. She is also survived by grandchildren: Travis Pope of Washington, DC; Corie (Ari) Pope Lieberman of Brooklyn, New York; Erin Pope of Longview, Texas; Drew (Holly) Humphrey of Waco, Texas; and Abby (Kyle) Baker of Waco, Texas. In recent years her great grandchildren brought her much joy: Larkin Cindy Lieberman, Levi Lieberman, Ember Humphrey, Nylah Humphrey, Rylan Humphrey, Parker Humphrey, Mayson Baker, Landon Baker, Rhett Armstrong, Kenna Armstrong, Harmony Dluhos, Remi Dluhos, and Nolan Dluhos. The family would like to give a special word of thanks to the medical and administrative team at El Campo Memorial Hospital, to Sean Bower and his Physical Therapy Team at Paradigm, to Houston Hospice and to the SPJST Home in Hillje, where she spent her final hours. Most especially we would like to recognize her care givers: Sylvia Arrambide, Emilia Arrambide, and Ofelia Torres. None of our words are adequate to thank you. We see you as the angels that God sent to take care of our Mom. Visitation will be at Triska Funeral Home from 4:30-6:30 PM on Friday, July 26th. The celebration of life will be held Saturday, July 27th at 11:00 AM at First Baptist Church, El Campo. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Baptist Church, El Campo, the El Campo Memorial Hospital Foundation, or to the charity of your choice.

Cynthia Lynn (Welch) Pope

May 7, 1933 - July 20, 2024

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Cynthia Lynn (Welch) Pope

May 7, 1933 - July 20, 2024

365 Days of Grief Support

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information