Dale Coplen
September 21, 2016 at 10:10 p.m.
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He was born Oct. 16, 1932, in Miami County, to Lee Von and Cora L. Zimmerman Coplen. On Aug. 15, 1954, he married Feryl Ann Fouts, who passed away Dec. 8, 1996. On Feb. 15, 1998, he married Beverly Jo Lance Simmons, who survives.
He grew up on a dairy farm and tried his hand at it for a little while after serving in the United States Army from 1953 to 1955 during the Korean conflict, stationed at Fort Sill. He graduated from Gilead High School in 1950 with the school mascot symbol “Wildcats.”
He lived most of his life in the Gilead/Akron area before moving to North Manchester five years ago.
After farming, he ran a Christmas tree farm for a few years and then was employed by Sonoco Products Co., Akron, where he was a shipping supervisor. He retired from there after 30-some years of service. As a retirement gift, Sonoco gave him a lifetime pass to all sporting events at Tippecanoe Valley High School, which he enjoyed so much.
After retiring, he worked part time for Shepherd GM Center, Rochester, delivering and picking up vehicles for about 10 years.
He and his first wife had four children – two boys and two girls. He was a coach for Little League while his boys participated.
He had a special place in his heart for Dachshunds. His last dog was a Dachshund named Pete. They would go for walks in the morning, and he was his special pal.
He was an avid Cubs fan and enjoyed fishing and going on trips to Canada with his friends. While his son was in Scotland, Dale went to visit him and thoroughly enjoyed those trips.
He was a member of the Olive Branch Church of God, where he was a greeter. He loved the church and was involved in whatever he could do. He was a past member of Akron Lions Club.
He loved to garden and plant flowers. His favorite flowers were petunias; he seemed to have a green thumb. He also liked to feed the birds.
His evening activities included watching “Wheel of Fortune” and “Jeopardy” on TV. He and Beverly played Yahtzee with hand-held devices on the TV, being very competitive. He also enjoyed playing solitaire on his computer.
He recently was chosen by the Honor Flight and was planning to attend the memorials in Washington with his son Mike on Sept. 22. Unfortunately, they were not able to go due to his untimely death.
Also surviving Dale are two sons, Donald Dale Coplen Jr., Huntsville, Ala., and Michael Ray (and spouse Katherine) Coplen, North Manchester; two daughters, Karen Eileen (and spouse Wayne) Conway, Fall River, Mass., and Karna Elaine Lyons, Philadelphia; two brothers, Robert (and spouse Muriel) Coplen, Fort Wayne, and Ralph (and spouse Barbara) Coplen, Fort Wayne; a sister, Edna Ruth Chandler, Indianapolis; three stepsons: Allen Simmons, Panama City Beach, Fla.; Timothy (and spouse Michelle), Rochester, Minn.; and Lance (and spouse Rhonda) Simmons, West Palm Beach, Fla; two stepdaughters, Diane (and spouse Dee) Boyd, Dallas, and Rebecca (and spouse Joe) Wood, Westville, Fla.; five grandchildren; six stepgrandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Preceding him were his parents; three brothers, Wayne, Dean and Charles Coplen; and a sister, June Brown.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Earl-Love Funeral Home, 811 E. Rochester St., Akron, with Senior Pastor Jeff Sumner and Pastor Kyle Schnitz of Olive Branch Church of God officiating. The United States Army will render military honors at the service, and the Fulton County Veterans Honor Guard will perform military rites. Burial will be in Mount Hope Hoover Cemetery, Athens.
Calling is from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
*****
Memorials to Olive Branch Church of God.
Online condolences may be sent at earllovefuneralhome.com
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He was born Oct. 16, 1932, in Miami County, to Lee Von and Cora L. Zimmerman Coplen. On Aug. 15, 1954, he married Feryl Ann Fouts, who passed away Dec. 8, 1996. On Feb. 15, 1998, he married Beverly Jo Lance Simmons, who survives.
He grew up on a dairy farm and tried his hand at it for a little while after serving in the United States Army from 1953 to 1955 during the Korean conflict, stationed at Fort Sill. He graduated from Gilead High School in 1950 with the school mascot symbol “Wildcats.”
He lived most of his life in the Gilead/Akron area before moving to North Manchester five years ago.
After farming, he ran a Christmas tree farm for a few years and then was employed by Sonoco Products Co., Akron, where he was a shipping supervisor. He retired from there after 30-some years of service. As a retirement gift, Sonoco gave him a lifetime pass to all sporting events at Tippecanoe Valley High School, which he enjoyed so much.
After retiring, he worked part time for Shepherd GM Center, Rochester, delivering and picking up vehicles for about 10 years.
He and his first wife had four children – two boys and two girls. He was a coach for Little League while his boys participated.
He had a special place in his heart for Dachshunds. His last dog was a Dachshund named Pete. They would go for walks in the morning, and he was his special pal.
He was an avid Cubs fan and enjoyed fishing and going on trips to Canada with his friends. While his son was in Scotland, Dale went to visit him and thoroughly enjoyed those trips.
He was a member of the Olive Branch Church of God, where he was a greeter. He loved the church and was involved in whatever he could do. He was a past member of Akron Lions Club.
He loved to garden and plant flowers. His favorite flowers were petunias; he seemed to have a green thumb. He also liked to feed the birds.
His evening activities included watching “Wheel of Fortune” and “Jeopardy” on TV. He and Beverly played Yahtzee with hand-held devices on the TV, being very competitive. He also enjoyed playing solitaire on his computer.
He recently was chosen by the Honor Flight and was planning to attend the memorials in Washington with his son Mike on Sept. 22. Unfortunately, they were not able to go due to his untimely death.
Also surviving Dale are two sons, Donald Dale Coplen Jr., Huntsville, Ala., and Michael Ray (and spouse Katherine) Coplen, North Manchester; two daughters, Karen Eileen (and spouse Wayne) Conway, Fall River, Mass., and Karna Elaine Lyons, Philadelphia; two brothers, Robert (and spouse Muriel) Coplen, Fort Wayne, and Ralph (and spouse Barbara) Coplen, Fort Wayne; a sister, Edna Ruth Chandler, Indianapolis; three stepsons: Allen Simmons, Panama City Beach, Fla.; Timothy (and spouse Michelle), Rochester, Minn.; and Lance (and spouse Rhonda) Simmons, West Palm Beach, Fla; two stepdaughters, Diane (and spouse Dee) Boyd, Dallas, and Rebecca (and spouse Joe) Wood, Westville, Fla.; five grandchildren; six stepgrandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Preceding him were his parents; three brothers, Wayne, Dean and Charles Coplen; and a sister, June Brown.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Earl-Love Funeral Home, 811 E. Rochester St., Akron, with Senior Pastor Jeff Sumner and Pastor Kyle Schnitz of Olive Branch Church of God officiating. The United States Army will render military honors at the service, and the Fulton County Veterans Honor Guard will perform military rites. Burial will be in Mount Hope Hoover Cemetery, Athens.
Calling is from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
*****
Memorials to Olive Branch Church of God.
Online condolences may be sent at earllovefuneralhome.com
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