Jerry Pope Poppell

Posted on April 4, 2018

Jerry Pope Poppell, 79, went to be with his Lord and Savior, after a lengthy battle with mesothelioma, on March 28, 2018, in Blairsville, Ga., with his loving family by his side. Jerry was born March 3, 1939, in Perry, to John Pope Poppell and Mary Elsie Godwin Poppell.

Jerry honorably served our country in the United States Army during the Berlin Crisis. He was of the Primitive Baptist faith and was a member of Tucson Primitive Baptist Church in Tucson, Ariz.

Jerry worked as an aeronautical engineer with Boeing for 21 years, as an engineer/scientist, retiring in 2007. He was an inventor and worked for Automated Manufacturing Systems, Inc. and Carolina Button Company. He worked with Piper Aircraft for 13 years in both Vero Beach and Lakeland. He also worked with the Taylor County News Herald and O’Quinn’s Drug Store.

In his spare time he enjoyed woodworking, flint knapping, photography and building working aircraft prototypes. He enjoyed any challenge of a mechanical nature. He also enjoyed hiking, rappelling, and off-roading.

Jerry was preceded in death by: his son, Brent Alan Poppell; and parents, John Pope and Mary Elsie Poppell.

Jerry was the devoted and loving husband of Virginia Ruth Freeman Poppell for 58 years. He loved his children, daughter, Sandra Poppell of Blairsville, Ga. and son, Gary Poppell (Shannon) of Mesa, Ariz.; grandchildren, Craig Cunningham (Janell), Megan Connor (Jon), Jeffrey, Kevin, and Allison Poppell; great-grandchildren, Brent and Tyler Cunningham and Mollie and Gabriel Connor; his siblings, Charles Poppell, Christine Thompson, Ralph Poppell, and Wanda Colson; as well as a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services were held Saturday, March 31, at 11 a.m. at Shiloh Primitive Baptist Church with Elder Tommie Stanaland officiating. Interment services followed immediately afterwards at Pisgah Cemetery. The family received friends from 6-8 p.m. Friday, March 30, at Burns Funeral Home of Perry. All arrangements are under the direction of Burns Funeral Home of Perry.

Friends may sign the online guest book at www.joepburnsfuneralhomes.com