D. Gene Copeland, 101, of Girard Township, passed into eternity on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 at Drew’s Place in Coldwater. A graveside service and interment of ashes will take place Monday, June 19, 2023 at 11:00 AM at Evergreen Cemetery in Girard, MI. Arrangements are being cared for by Dutcher Funeral Home.
Gene was born September 19, 1921, in Geneva, Indiana, to John and Lola Grace (Teeple) Wood. She was the namesake of author and naturalist, Gene Stratton-Porter of the Limberlost in Adams County.
Gene was four years old when her family moved to Michigan. She graduated from Colon High School in 1939, and worked as a telephone operator until her marriage to Arthur Lee Copeland on October 19, 1941. During World War II, the couple were employed at the Willow Run Bomber Plant in Ypsilanti, then returned after the war to Branch County and raised three children. Gene assisted in the early years of her husband’s business at the Standard Plumbing Shop in Coldwater. She was employed at the Coldwater Regional Center, and retired from the Branch Intermediate School District as a paraprofessional, where she exercised her great gift in working with individuals with special needs.
Gene had a talent for writing, especially poetry, and several of her works were published. She was a long time member of the First Baptist Church where she served in ministry and taught Sunday School. She had a profound interest in Bible prophecy, and loved to ponder the Second Coming of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Gene’s was a life well lived. She was known for her beauty, grace, humor and charm, an inspiration and example to all who knew her. Many sought her advice and called her, “the listening ear.” She was a great mother, a true lady, and she has departed from our midst, full of years, indeed, and of glory.
Her passing is mourned by her children Robert Copeland of Lowell, Kay (Tony) Bowling, and Cristy (Earl) Nagle of Tekonsha; her grandchildren and many great grandchildren, nieces and nephews; dear friend Diana Horn; and the kind staff of Drew’s Place of Coldwater.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and her daughter-in-law Patty Copeland; sisters Mildred (Alvin) Cockrell, Esta Wood, Gladys Landfair Leininger, Hilma Wood, Helen (Ivan) Keckler, Florence (A.J.) Campbell, Margaret (Robert) Loose; two brothers, Kenneth (Blanche) Wood, and Floyd (Cleo) Wood.
Memorials may be made to the charity of one’s choice.
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