Ronald Beck Pope

Ronald B. Pope, 83, departed this mortal existence on March 24, 2023, following  a lengthy battle with cancer. Ron was born August 19, 1939, in Salt Lake City, UT to Vermilla Beck and Harold LeGrand Pope. He grew up in Bountiful, Utah and graduated from Bountiful High School (1957). During his youth, he held a variety of jobs, spent a great deal of time riding horses on the Wasatch Front, and worked on his ‘42 Ford. In 1959 he married his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Sydna Kay Holbrook.
In 1956 he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the advanced heavy-weapons infantry program at Ford Ord, California, and in other military posts in the western U.S. He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Utah, a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University and pursued post-graduate studies in other universities.
During his distinguished professional career, he worked for federal agencies in the United States, as well as the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency, where he served as the Head of the IAEA Transport Safety Unit in Vienna, Austria. While working for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), he was heavily involved in the Apollo project. Ron is the author, co-author, or editor of more than 175 technical papers and documents. He is also a member of the American Nuclear Society (ANS), the World Institute of Nuclear Security (WINS), the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) N14 Committee, and the Institute of Nuclear Material Management (INMM). His work assignments took him to more than 70 countries.
Ron and Sydna raised two children, Aimee (Winegar) and Scott Pope.  He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As the leader of his “forever family,” he is the patriarch of 5 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren, with 2 more on the way this year.
Ron is preceded in death by his parents, three sisters (Lorraine, Jeannine, and Claudia), and a grandson (James Winegar). He is survived by his loving wife of almost 64 years, Sydna (Holbrook), Aimee Pope Winegar (daughter) and her husband Steve Winegar, Scott Pope (son) and his wife Beth. He is also survived by three granddaughters – Allie Winegar Duzett, Isabel Winegar Sadler, and Tessa Pope Smith and their spouses; a grandson, Samuel Winegar, and his spouse.
A memorial service will be convened in a few weeks at the Fairview Ward Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at the Menzter Gap Road and Old Forge Road in Waynesboro, PA.
A viewing and visitation will be held on Saturday, April 1 from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. at the Russon Mortuary, 295 N Main St, Bountiful, UT, with remarks from the family at 10:15 a.m. The family is most grateful for the love, concern and support provided by members of the Fairview Ward, the local community, friends and the local hospice and other medical support staff. In lieu of flowers, for those wishing to make a charitable contribution in honor of Ron, please do so to your local hospice, local fire department or the American Cancer Society.

Services will be streamed live on Zoom at this link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89929420107?pwd=U1FSbklZWDJSZkNpVDlzWEtDZlVHQT09

Meeting ID: 899 2942 0107   /   Passcode: 490473

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