- Obituary
Patricia Virginia Crozier Pope was born on December 8, 1931, in Waelder, TX. She was the youngest of 7 children born to Mary Ella and Frank W. Crozier. The town of Waelder had a population of 1,048 at that time, so hers was a small-town South Texas upbringing.
She was very intelligent and skipped the second and fifth grades, while still making straight A's. She graduated from Waelder High School at age 16, then started classes at Trinity University in San Antonio that fall. While at Trinity she met the love of her life, Charles W. "Bill" Pope. They dated for 4 years then married within days of their graduations from college. Pat and Bill were happily married for almost 33 years, until Bill passed away in 1985.
Pat was a loving wife to Bill, and fully supported his career and education. She taught elementary school in Austin for a year while he earned a Masters in Accounting from the University of Texas. When they moved back to San Antonio, they bought a house and he attended St. Mary's Law at night while working full time during the day. It was during those years that their daughters, Eloise and Elaine, were born. Their son, Charles, was born a few years later. Pat used what she had learned as an elementary school teacher to help educate her 3 children while they were not yet school age. She read books to them every day, planned field trips to the zoo or park, and organized play dates with friends and cousins. She poured her life into her children and husband and loved them with a sacrificial love.
She enjoyed being active in her children's lives, and enjoyed PTA service, Cub Scouts, athletics, and served as homeroom mom many times. She was a talented seamstress who made dresses for her daughters and herself. She had many good friends who loved her.
Pat eventually went back to teaching after they got older, and upgraded her teaching certificate to include Special Education. She taught students who had learning disabilities for 16 years in the North East Independent School District. She was patient with her students, and they excelled under her care. She was nominated Teacher of the Year at Dellview Elementary, but turned it down multiple times. She was humble and did not seek the accolades. But finally, the administration prevailed, and she accepted both Teacher of the Year and a human relations award.
Pat lived a life of service, and had over 5,000 volunteer hours at the Methodist Hospital. She also volunteered with both the CPA and Texas Bar Auxiliaries while Bill was alive. She worked for many years with the Trinity Baptist Church tape ministry, a group that mailed sermon recordings all over the world. Pat was a long-time member of Trinity Baptist Church. There she enjoyed working at Vacation Bible School and Sew and Sow, a group who made baby blankets and pillows to give away to those in need. She loved to study the Bible with other members of her church, and was an active member of her Sunday school class.
Pat is survived by her daughter Eloise Sims and son-in-law Stephen C. Sims, daughter Elaine Bullard and son-in-law Thomas Bullard, and her son, Charles W. Pope, Jr. and daughter-in-law Alison Pope.
She had 9 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, and they all loved her dearly. Lisa Klar (Jason) of Poth, TX; David Vanderhider (Bethany) and their daughters, Hannah and Leah of San Antonio; Stephanie Edmondson (Kevin) of Virginia Beach, VA; Brian Sims (Cameron) of North Richland Hills, TX; Kelli Sims of Houston; Samantha Henning (Justin) and their son, William and daughter Olivia of San Antonio; Alexis Kennedy (Bryan) and their son, Caleb, daughter Daphne, and son Ethan of San Antonio; Carly McCord (Brett) and their son, Corey, of San Antonio; Erica Gustafson (Darren) and their daughters, Danielle and Charlotte of Houston.
She loved Jesus and her family all the days of her life; and they know they have been blessed beyond measure to have had her as their "Momo".
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1931 - 2020 (88 years)
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