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HOPE -- Don P. Hope left us to go to his Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, on September 2, 2010. He left us abruptly and without warning after mowing his lawn at the age of 88. On April 26th, 1922, the former Eunice Lynn and her husband, Schrader Hope, welcomed Don into the world in the small coal mining town of Sesser, Illinois, where he grew up amassing a myriad of wonderful, colorful stories about the townspeople. In later years, he spent evenings around tables regaling loved ones with these escapades never failing to point out the ethnicity of each character. He eloped with the love of his life and high school sweetheart, Voris Skinner, just prior to leaving for England to serve his country in the Eighth Army Air Force during World War II. He returned three years later to his bride and a precious little two year old son, Billy, who was followed later by their daughter Susie. The family moved to Albuquerque when Don was called up for the Korean conflict, serving out of Kirtland Air Force Base in the rank of Captain. Upon discharge from the military in 1954, he spent the next 35 years in the insurance business. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, friend, citizen and neighbor. But he shone the brightest in the care and love he gave to Voris when she was stricken with Alzheimers. Upon retiring at age 75, and wishing to travel in his new car, he had no regret nor complaint when he had to relinquish his travels and learn to do the shopping, cooking, cleaning, laundry, and all of the personal care required to keep his wife in dignity to the end. He cared for her with no other help until hospice showed up at his door one day and insisted it was time to take over. Their union lasted 59 years. Don was a man of integrity, who turned down no responsibility. He consistently denied himself so that he could give to others. He never backed away from a fight in his life. He spent his last eight years remembering Voris, keeping up the house, walking, playing tennis, watching sports, reading, and enjoying his family, friends, and neighbors. He awed us all with his spryness at his age but more so with his kindness, his principles and his dignity. He has left us a plethora of rich and fond memories. Don is survived by his brother, Bill Hope, and his wife, Bobbie, of Taylorville, IL; son, William C. Hope, and his wife, Margarita, of Tacoma, WA, and their three children: Erika Hope of Tacoma, WA, Will Hope, Capt, USAF, and his wife, Edie, and their son, Alexandre Lee, of Panama City, FL, and Judy Ianniccilli and her husband, Dave, of Santa Clara, CA; daughter, Susan Curlee, and her husband, Barry, of Austin, TX, and their daughter, Shannon Strathmann, and her husband, Joe, and their sons, William Riley and Joseph Rowan, and son, Clay Curlee and his fiancee, Mariya Townswick, of Dallas, TX. The Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, September 10, 2010 in the Palm Chapel of Daniels Family Funeral Services, 1100 Coal Ave SE, with Chaplain Matt Caward presiding. Interment will follow at 1:00 p.m. at Santa Fe National Cemetery. The Hope family would like to acknowledge their heartfelt gratitude to Dr. and Mrs. John Neufeld for their wonderful friendship to Don, as well as, Charlie Pryor, who, without even asking, graciously befriended their father over the last several years. Online condolences can be submitted at www.danielsfuneral.com. Services have been entrusted to: Daniels Family Funeral Services 1100 Coal Ave SE Albuquerque, NM 87106 505-842-8800
        Published on: Sun September 05, 2010