March 29, 2024

Betty Jo Tope, 85, of Middleport, and formerly of Gallipolis, passed away, at 5:40 p.m. on Thursday, April 26, 2018 in the Holzer Senior Care Center, Bidwell. Born October 8, 1932, in Harrisonville, she is the daughter of the late Albert H. and Gladys C. Casto Rhodes. She was retired mail clerk for the Ohio Valley Publishing Company and she also worked in the kitchen at Holzer Medical Center. She is a member of the Red Hats society and the Centenary United Methodist Church and she attended the Bradford Church of Christ.

Betty Jo, is survived by her children, Bonnie (Ralph) Searls, of Rutland, Ray (Mandy) Tope, of Middleport, Paula (Tim) Tomlin, of Middleport, grandchildren, Cindy McGuire, Bobbi Jo (David Staats) Searls, Kristi McKnight, and Reed Tope, great-grandchildren, Bryanna McGuire, Justin Searls, David Staats III, and Candice Staats. Sisters, Mary Taylor, of Gallipolis, Gertie King, of Jacksonville, FL., Evelyn Clark, of Gallipolis, and Nancy Maynard, of Patriot, brothers, Clifford Rhodes, of Gallipolis, and Bud (Faye) Rhodes, of South Carolina, a family friend, Jean Davidson, and numerous nieces and nephews also survive.

In addition to her parents she is preceded in death by her husband, Paul Tope whom she married on January 4, 1959 in Northup and preceded her on January 3, 1996, her step-mother, Mae Rhodes, brother, Ralph Rhodes, a sister, Lillian Rhodes, sisters-in-law, Freda Thorne, and Mildred Tope, and family friends, Audrey Johnson and Sarah Jarrell.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday May 2, 2018, at 1 p.m. in the Cremeens-King Funeral Home, Gallipolis. Pastor Russ Moore will officiate and interment will follow in the White Cemetery. Friends may call two hours prior to the funeral service. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family by visiting www.cremeensking.com