1921
Wlbur
2013
Wlbur Copeland
August 18, 1921 — October 20, 2013
Wilbur Clyde Copeland, 92, of Lenexa, Kansas went to be with his Lord on the Lord's Day, October 20, 2013.
He was born on August 18, 1921 on a farm near Idana, Kansas, the fourth child of Bernard C.
and Margaret Ewing Copeland. He attended the King country School and Clay Center Community High School. He attended Sterling College for two years, interrupting his studies to join the U.S. Army in 1942. He graduated from Officer Candidate School at Carlyle Barracks, Pennsylvania, and was commissioned in the Medical Administration Corps. He served in the South Pacific campaign.
On June 15, 1943, in Fresno, California, he married Arvilla E. Walkinshaw of Bostwick, Nebraska. They became the parents of three sons.
He was discharged from active duty in 1946, and attended the University of Nebraska, from which he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture. From 1948-52 he taught Agriculture classes for the Veterans' Administration. From 1952 until his retirement in 1983, he was employed by Farmland Industries, of Kansas City, MO. He was recognized as an expert in farm safety, and served as President of the National Fertilizer Safety Advisory Board.
Mr. Copeland was for many years active as a Ruling Elder in the Reformed Presbyterian Church, first in Superior, NE, then Lawrence, KS, and Shawnee, KS. Throughout the 1950s he was active in the Gideons International.
In 1994 he and his wife moved to Lakeview Village retirement community in Lenexa.
He was preceded in death by his wife Arvilla in 2000; by his parents; a sister Beth in 1962, a brother Lloyd in 2011, a sister Jenny in 2011, and a brother Clarke in 2012. He is survived by a brother, Keith (Leu Ann) of Vivian, LA; by his sons Robert (Louise) of Beaver Falls, PA; Stanley (Marilyn) of Clay Center, KS, and Stephen (Ellen) of Columbus, OH; by seven grandchildren: Thomas (Ava) of Beaver Falls, PA; Anne (John) Shaw of Elkins Park, PA; Kathryn (Sean) Donaldson of Belleview, PA; Calvin and his fiancee Kimberly Hertzog of Kansas City; Faith (Jason) Lee of Ft. Riley, KS; David (Patricia) of Ft. Bliss, TX, and Daniel (Tanya) of Huron, SD; fourteen great-grandchildren: Margaret and Ian Copeland; William, Micah, Johanna, Samuel, and Evangeline Shaw; Tristan and Akela Copeland, Samantha and Michelle Lee , Robyn and Thomas Copeland, and Mackenzie Copeland; and by a large number of cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was born on August 18, 1921 on a farm near Idana, Kansas, the fourth child of Bernard C.
and Margaret Ewing Copeland. He attended the King country School and Clay Center Community High School. He attended Sterling College for two years, interrupting his studies to join the U.S. Army in 1942. He graduated from Officer Candidate School at Carlyle Barracks, Pennsylvania, and was commissioned in the Medical Administration Corps. He served in the South Pacific campaign.
On June 15, 1943, in Fresno, California, he married Arvilla E. Walkinshaw of Bostwick, Nebraska. They became the parents of three sons.
He was discharged from active duty in 1946, and attended the University of Nebraska, from which he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture. From 1948-52 he taught Agriculture classes for the Veterans' Administration. From 1952 until his retirement in 1983, he was employed by Farmland Industries, of Kansas City, MO. He was recognized as an expert in farm safety, and served as President of the National Fertilizer Safety Advisory Board.
Mr. Copeland was for many years active as a Ruling Elder in the Reformed Presbyterian Church, first in Superior, NE, then Lawrence, KS, and Shawnee, KS. Throughout the 1950s he was active in the Gideons International.
In 1994 he and his wife moved to Lakeview Village retirement community in Lenexa.
He was preceded in death by his wife Arvilla in 2000; by his parents; a sister Beth in 1962, a brother Lloyd in 2011, a sister Jenny in 2011, and a brother Clarke in 2012. He is survived by a brother, Keith (Leu Ann) of Vivian, LA; by his sons Robert (Louise) of Beaver Falls, PA; Stanley (Marilyn) of Clay Center, KS, and Stephen (Ellen) of Columbus, OH; by seven grandchildren: Thomas (Ava) of Beaver Falls, PA; Anne (John) Shaw of Elkins Park, PA; Kathryn (Sean) Donaldson of Belleview, PA; Calvin and his fiancee Kimberly Hertzog of Kansas City; Faith (Jason) Lee of Ft. Riley, KS; David (Patricia) of Ft. Bliss, TX, and Daniel (Tanya) of Huron, SD; fourteen great-grandchildren: Margaret and Ian Copeland; William, Micah, Johanna, Samuel, and Evangeline Shaw; Tristan and Akela Copeland, Samantha and Michelle Lee , Robyn and Thomas Copeland, and Mackenzie Copeland; and by a large number of cousins, nieces and nephews.
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