Thomas Carlyle Cope was born September 20, 1925 in Watertown, South Dakota, and passed January 8, 2020 at Harrison Hospital in Bremerton, Washington. Tom lived 94 full years and was a Puget Sound resident since 1955.
Born at home to Thomas Eugene and Pearle Rebecca (née Sleeper) Cope, Tom was the youngest of seven children.
After graduating high school, Tom enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving primarily in the Philippines during World War II. After the war, Tom was an instrument mechanic on P-51 Mustangs in the U.S. Army Air Force Reserve, which later became the U.S. Air Force Reserve. He was honorably discharged in 1961 with the rank of second lieutenant.
Tom returned to Watertown after the war and shortly thereafter met Opal Elaine Eck, whom he married December 21, 1947. He completed a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at South Dakota State College in June 1950. After working for the U.S. government for five years, Tom accepted a job with the Boeing Company in Seattle and later worked as a flight-test engineer in the development of the Boeing 737 and 747.
Tom’s passion for aviation started when he was a young child as he would build model airplanes. He was one of the few people who had a dream as a young boy and who worked and lived to see that dream fulfilled through his career with the Boeing company. He also co-developed and produced a flying model airplane kit named “The New Ruler.”
Tom was preceded in death by his wife, Opal Elaine; his sons Kerry Eugene and Jeffrey William; and his grandson Joshua Scott. He is survived by his sons Thomas Steven (Carol) and Jon Michael (Kim); eight grandchildren and six great grandchildren. He was a role model for his family and an inspiration to all. He will be greatly missed.
A celebration of Tom’s life will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 1, 2020 at Elks Lodge #1181 in Bremerton, Washington.
Obituary from Flintoft Funeral Home's website
Born at home to Thomas Eugene and Pearle Rebecca (née Sleeper) Cope, Tom was the youngest of seven children.
After graduating high school, Tom enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving primarily in the Philippines during World War II. After the war, Tom was an instrument mechanic on P-51 Mustangs in the U.S. Army Air Force Reserve, which later became the U.S. Air Force Reserve. He was honorably discharged in 1961 with the rank of second lieutenant.
Tom returned to Watertown after the war and shortly thereafter met Opal Elaine Eck, whom he married December 21, 1947. He completed a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at South Dakota State College in June 1950. After working for the U.S. government for five years, Tom accepted a job with the Boeing Company in Seattle and later worked as a flight-test engineer in the development of the Boeing 737 and 747.
Tom’s passion for aviation started when he was a young child as he would build model airplanes. He was one of the few people who had a dream as a young boy and who worked and lived to see that dream fulfilled through his career with the Boeing company. He also co-developed and produced a flying model airplane kit named “The New Ruler.”
Tom was preceded in death by his wife, Opal Elaine; his sons Kerry Eugene and Jeffrey William; and his grandson Joshua Scott. He is survived by his sons Thomas Steven (Carol) and Jon Michael (Kim); eight grandchildren and six great grandchildren. He was a role model for his family and an inspiration to all. He will be greatly missed.
A celebration of Tom’s life will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 1, 2020 at Elks Lodge #1181 in Bremerton, Washington.
Obituary from Flintoft Funeral Home's website
Thomas Carlyle Cope was born September 20, 1925 in Watertown, South Dakota, and passed January 8, 2020 at Harrison Hospital in Bremerton, Washington. Tom lived 94 full years and was a Puget Sound resident since 1955.
Born at home to Thomas Eugene and Pearle Rebecca (née Sleeper) Cope, Tom was the youngest of seven children.
After graduating high school, Tom enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving primarily in the Philippines during World War II. After the war, Tom was an instrument mechanic on P-51 Mustangs in the U.S. Army Air Force Reserve, which later became the U.S. Air Force Reserve. He was honorably discharged in 1961 with the rank of second lieutenant.
Tom returned to Watertown after the war and shortly thereafter met Opal Elaine Eck, whom he married December 21, 1947. He completed a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at South Dakota State College in June 1950. After working for the U.S. government for five years, Tom accepted a job with the Boeing Company in Seattle and later worked as a flight-test engineer in the development of the Boeing 737 and 747.
Tom’s passion for aviation started when he was a young child as he would build model airplanes. He was one of the few people who had a dream as a young boy and who worked and lived to see that dream fulfilled through his career with the Boeing company. He also co-developed and produced a flying model airplane kit named “The New Ruler.”
Tom was preceded in death by his wife, Opal Elaine; his sons Kerry Eugene and Jeffrey William; and his grandson Joshua Scott. He is survived by his sons Thomas Steven (Carol) and Jon Michael (Kim); eight grandchildren and six great grandchildren. He was a role model for his family and an inspiration to all. He will be greatly missed.
A celebration of Tom’s life will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 1, 2020 at Elks Lodge #1181 in Bremerton, Washington.
Obituary from Flintoft Funeral Home's website
Born at home to Thomas Eugene and Pearle Rebecca (née Sleeper) Cope, Tom was the youngest of seven children.
After graduating high school, Tom enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving primarily in the Philippines during World War II. After the war, Tom was an instrument mechanic on P-51 Mustangs in the U.S. Army Air Force Reserve, which later became the U.S. Air Force Reserve. He was honorably discharged in 1961 with the rank of second lieutenant.
Tom returned to Watertown after the war and shortly thereafter met Opal Elaine Eck, whom he married December 21, 1947. He completed a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at South Dakota State College in June 1950. After working for the U.S. government for five years, Tom accepted a job with the Boeing Company in Seattle and later worked as a flight-test engineer in the development of the Boeing 737 and 747.
Tom’s passion for aviation started when he was a young child as he would build model airplanes. He was one of the few people who had a dream as a young boy and who worked and lived to see that dream fulfilled through his career with the Boeing company. He also co-developed and produced a flying model airplane kit named “The New Ruler.”
Tom was preceded in death by his wife, Opal Elaine; his sons Kerry Eugene and Jeffrey William; and his grandson Joshua Scott. He is survived by his sons Thomas Steven (Carol) and Jon Michael (Kim); eight grandchildren and six great grandchildren. He was a role model for his family and an inspiration to all. He will be greatly missed.
A celebration of Tom’s life will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 1, 2020 at Elks Lodge #1181 in Bremerton, Washington.
Obituary from Flintoft Funeral Home's website
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