Ralph E. Coplen, age 89, of Fort Wayne, passed away on Tuesday, June 2, 2020, at 7:44 a.m. in Englewood Health and Rehabilitation Center, Fort Wayne.
Ralph was born April 17, 1931, in Fulton County, to Lee Von and Cora L. Zimmerman Coplen. He was united in marriage to Barbara D. Anglin on Nov. 20, 1955, in Warsaw.
He graduated from Gilead High School with the class of 1949. Ralph proudly served in the U.S. Army as a corporal during the Korean Conflict from 1952 to 1954. He was a former employee for L.M. Berry & Co. as an office manager from 1954 to 1974. He then owned and operated the Cass Co. Tire located in Logansport from 1984 to 1994.
Ralph was a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church, Warsaw. He was the secretary for 12 years for the Elks Club #802, Warsaw. He served as a former president for the Lions Club in Logansport. He enjoyed bowling, golf, gardening and working for 12 years at Ritter’s Custard in Warsaw.
Ralph is survived by his wife of 64 years, Barbara Coplen of Fort Wayne; children: Sharon C. (Andreas) Reimold, of Dallas, Texas; and Jim (Lesa) Coplen, of Fort Wayne; grandchildren: Jay (Anna Grace) Coplen, Jennifer (Justin) Peeper, Nicholas Reimold and Kim Reimold; and a great-grandchild, Lynley Coplen. He was preceded in death by siblings: Wayne Coplen, Charles Coplen, Dean Coplen, Robert Coplen, Dale Coplen, June Brown and Ruth Chandler.
A private funeral service will be held for the family with a celebration of life to be held at a later date. Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery. Services are entrusted to McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel, Warsaw.
*****
Memorials to Trinity United Methodist Church, 832 E. Center St., Warsaw, IN 46580.
To sign the guestbook or send a condolence, go to www.mchattonsadlerfuneralchapels.com.
