Obituary: Thomas Truman Cope

Thomas Truman Cope 1914 ~ 2006 Our loving papa, grandpa, uncle and friend passed away on July 16, 2006 at the Seattle VA Medical Center following complications of strokes. He was born October 11, 1914 in Westover, Texas to Henry Thomas Cope and Eliza Jane Mathews Cope. He was the sole surviving sibling of 19 brothers and sisters and revered by immediate and extended family. Papa survived four+ years in Japanese concentration camps as a World War II Prisoner of War (taken on Wake Island). He married Lozene Barlow in the Salt Lake LDS Temple Dec. 7, 1945. Later divorced. He was known to many in the 50s-70s as "Tex" on two-way radio. He loved to sing hymns and sang them on the radio, on the Salt Lake City buses, in his garden, playing Frisbee up and down Truman Avenue. Papa loved his daughters and grandchildren and lived with his daughter Nadine for 10 years and was able to attend many of their sporting events and piano recitals. He made friends with many, sharing the veggies and apricots from his front-yard garden in South Salt Lake with his neighbors and passersby. Papa spent the last year of his life as a resident of Seattle VA Nursing Home where he made many friends among the doctors, nurses, staff and volunteers. They gave him excellent care and most of all became his friends. Checkers was His Game at the VA and his table in the hallway was totally advantageous to snagging a partner. Papa is survived by his two daughters, Marilyn (Sam) Taumoefolau and Nadine Estep; grandchildren Marvell, Rawshawd, Jayme, James, Markus, Kimberly and Toa, many nieces, nephews, and dear friend of many years, Sally McLachlan. Papa had a strong testimony of his Father in Heaven and loved the Lord. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, July 29 at 4 p.m. at the Somerset LDS chapel, 4200 124th Ave SE, Bellevue, WA. Interment will be at Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent, WA with full military honors. Condolences may be made at www.legacy.com.