Roll Call Tribute
Richard Copeland Jr. '61 October 7, 2016 1:51 PM updated: October 7, 2016 1:53 PM
Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home obituary
1131 State Highway 149
Post Office Box 1136
Carthage, Texas 75633
Phone: 903-693-7125
Fax: 903-693-2340
Dr. Richard F. Copeland, Jr.
October 10, 1938 - September 15, 2016
Dr. Richard Franklin Copeland, Jr., 77 of the Delray Community, in Panola County, TX, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016, in Carthage, TX. He was born Oct. 10, 1938, in Tyler, TX to the late Richard Franklin Copeland, Sr. and Irene Ella Harrott Copeland. He attended New London Schools and graduated from Carthage High School with the class of 1957. He graduated from Panola College with a 4.0 GPA and went on to Texas A&M University to earn a Bachelors, Masters and Ph.D. in Chemistry, and spent two years at UT Austin on a post-doctoral fellowship. He later earned a Masters Degree in Computer Science from the University of Central Florida.
He lived a life in pursuit of knowledge and was a consummate educator inside the university classroom and out. He received many honors, awards, and grants including some that helped establish computer science and computer engineering programs during his career which involved teaching at Ball State University, The University of Michigan, and Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida where he retired after 33 years of service as Professor Emeritus. He also worked in the summers at General Motors Proving Grounds near Ann Arbor, Michigan, IBM in Westchester County, NY, Livermore Labs near San Francisco, and Cal Tech/Jet Propulsion Laboratories at the Table Mountain Observatory near Pasadena, California.
He was active in both the Baptist and Methodist churches as a Deacon, Trustee, Sunday School Teacher, and on the Board for A Child’s Place Daycare. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Carthage where he served on committees and as a Sunday school teacher. He was active in many professional organizations related to the fields of chemistry and computer science. He loved attending symphony and opera programs and was a long-time supporter of the Longview Symphony. He supported the Texas Shakespeare Festival as a Guild Member. He was an explorer. He enjoyed travel with his wife and daughter, and had been to at least four continents, as well as the entire United States. He was a generous, caring, and supportive family man; a loving and proud husband, father, and grandfather with a refined dry humor. He shared his love of science, history, classical music, the arts, science fiction, football, and faith with those close to him. He will be deeply missed. He was preceded in death by his brother, Cary Harrott Copeland and a niece, Catherine Elizabeth Copeland.
He is survived by his loving wife and best friend of 47 years, Dr. Carolyn V. Copeland; his daughter, Dr. Cassandra C. Marcinik and husband Todd; his granddaughter, Alexandra Marcinik; his brother, David Copeland, M.D. and wife Irene Townsend, M.D.; niece, Lillian Copeland; nephew, William Copeland; brother-in-law, William Needels and wife Shirley; nieces, Christie Mead and Cindy Bulson and husband, Darryl; nephew, Craig Needels and wife Mary; and numerous other nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends.
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 19, 2016, at the First United Methodist Church in Carthage with Rev. Keefe Cropper Dr. John Ray, and Rev. Leah Hanks officiating. The family will receive friends from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 18, at Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Walton Cemetery in Delray.
Pallbearers are Dr. David Copeland, Todd Marcinik, Bill Needels, Dr. John Ray, Craig Needels, and William Copeland.
Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 201 S. Shelby, Carthage, TX 75633.
A guestbook may be signed online at www.jimerson-lipsey.com.
1131 State Highway 149
Post Office Box 1136
Carthage, Texas 75633
Phone: 903-693-7125
Fax: 903-693-2340
Dr. Richard F. Copeland, Jr.
October 10, 1938 - September 15, 2016
Dr. Richard Franklin Copeland, Jr., 77 of the Delray Community, in Panola County, TX, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016, in Carthage, TX. He was born Oct. 10, 1938, in Tyler, TX to the late Richard Franklin Copeland, Sr. and Irene Ella Harrott Copeland. He attended New London Schools and graduated from Carthage High School with the class of 1957. He graduated from Panola College with a 4.0 GPA and went on to Texas A&M University to earn a Bachelors, Masters and Ph.D. in Chemistry, and spent two years at UT Austin on a post-doctoral fellowship. He later earned a Masters Degree in Computer Science from the University of Central Florida.
He lived a life in pursuit of knowledge and was a consummate educator inside the university classroom and out. He received many honors, awards, and grants including some that helped establish computer science and computer engineering programs during his career which involved teaching at Ball State University, The University of Michigan, and Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida where he retired after 33 years of service as Professor Emeritus. He also worked in the summers at General Motors Proving Grounds near Ann Arbor, Michigan, IBM in Westchester County, NY, Livermore Labs near San Francisco, and Cal Tech/Jet Propulsion Laboratories at the Table Mountain Observatory near Pasadena, California.
He was active in both the Baptist and Methodist churches as a Deacon, Trustee, Sunday School Teacher, and on the Board for A Child’s Place Daycare. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Carthage where he served on committees and as a Sunday school teacher. He was active in many professional organizations related to the fields of chemistry and computer science. He loved attending symphony and opera programs and was a long-time supporter of the Longview Symphony. He supported the Texas Shakespeare Festival as a Guild Member. He was an explorer. He enjoyed travel with his wife and daughter, and had been to at least four continents, as well as the entire United States. He was a generous, caring, and supportive family man; a loving and proud husband, father, and grandfather with a refined dry humor. He shared his love of science, history, classical music, the arts, science fiction, football, and faith with those close to him. He will be deeply missed. He was preceded in death by his brother, Cary Harrott Copeland and a niece, Catherine Elizabeth Copeland.
He is survived by his loving wife and best friend of 47 years, Dr. Carolyn V. Copeland; his daughter, Dr. Cassandra C. Marcinik and husband Todd; his granddaughter, Alexandra Marcinik; his brother, David Copeland, M.D. and wife Irene Townsend, M.D.; niece, Lillian Copeland; nephew, William Copeland; brother-in-law, William Needels and wife Shirley; nieces, Christie Mead and Cindy Bulson and husband, Darryl; nephew, Craig Needels and wife Mary; and numerous other nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends.
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 19, 2016, at the First United Methodist Church in Carthage with Rev. Keefe Cropper Dr. John Ray, and Rev. Leah Hanks officiating. The family will receive friends from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 18, at Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Walton Cemetery in Delray.
Pallbearers are Dr. David Copeland, Todd Marcinik, Bill Needels, Dr. John Ray, Craig Needels, and William Copeland.
Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 201 S. Shelby, Carthage, TX 75633.
A guestbook may be signed online at www.jimerson-lipsey.com.
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