Following his release from active duty, he taught Science and Math for two years at Pulaski Heights Junior High School.  He graduated from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1961 with a Masters Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling.  He joined the Arkansas Rehabilitation Service working as a Counselor, Supervisor, and Program Administrator.  He was the Assistant Commissioner upon his retirement in 1996, having served the agency for 35 years.  Upon his retirement, he served as an Adjunct Professor in the Rehabilitation Counseling Program at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock for seven years.  He was a licensed Professional Counselor.  He taught the first on-line rehabilitation counseling course at UALR.

     He remained an active member of the Army Reserve for over 36 years, holding a variety of assignments.  While serving as Chief of Staff of the 122nd Army Reserve Command he was instrumental in restoring the World War I name of Camp Pike to the new Army Reserve Complex being constructed and naming it the Camp Pike Reserve Complex. In November 1983 he became the Deputy Commanding General of the 122nd Army Reserve Command and was promoted to Brigadier General in 1984.  In 1987, Brigadier General Hope assumed command of the 95th Division and was promoted to Major General.  General Hope was appointed by the Secretary of the Army to be a member of the Army Reserve Forces Policy Committee in 1988.  He was a graduate of the Infantry Officers Basic and Advanced Courses, Quartermaster Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Army Command and Staff College, National Defense University and the Army War College.  In 1999, he was appointed as an Army Reserve Ambassador for Arkansas.

     His Military awards included the Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Humanitarian Service Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with two Ten-Year Devices, Army Meritorious Service Medal with One Oak Leaf Cluster , the Army Distinguished Service Medal and the Harry S. Truman Lifetime Achievement Award.

      The Republic of Venezuela awarded him the Honor Merito for his assistance in training the Venezualan Reserves, the State of Oklahoma honored General Hope with the Oklahoma Distinguished Service Medal.

      In 1990, he was elected National President of the Reserve Officers Association of the United States. The Reserve Officers Association is a professional organization representing over 125,000 members of the uniformed services of the United States.  In 1994, General Hope served as Vice President and Head of the United States Delegation to NATO Interallied Confederation of Reserves.  General Hope was a member of the Sovereign Military Order

of the Temple of Jerusalem, the Grand Priory of NATO.

      In 1985, Henderson State University recognized him with their Distinguished Alumni award.

      He was a member of Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church, serving on the Administrative Board and as a greeter and usher.  He was a member of the MacArthur  Museum of Military History, The Confessing Movement of the United Methodist Church, The DP Golf Group, Andy’s Breakfast Group, Chairman of the UALR Rehabilitation Counseling Program Advisory Committee; Chairman of the UALR Endowment Committee, and Reserve Officers Association of the United States.

      He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Dorothy L. Hope and daughters, Sherry Bates and husband Larry, Gayle Marcks and husband Tom, Dotty Sonnemaker and husband Scott, Marci Taylor and son John Hope and wife Michelle; grandchildren,  Melissa Old, Julie and Rachel Marcks, Tyler and Tara Sonnemaker, Jessica Taylor and Lindsay Hope and his great-grandchild, Cody Old. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

      Funeral arrangements will be 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 3, 2006 at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church with Dr. Jeff B. Hampton officiating.  Burial will be in Pinecrest Memorial Park.

      Family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Monday, January 2, 2006 at Roller Chenal Funeral Home (224-8300).

      Memorial can be made to Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church or the Robert C. Hope Scholarship Fund in Rehabilitation Counseling at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.