Charles Copeland

Charles L. Copeland, 91, of Biloxi, died Thursday, October 11, 2007 in Biloxi.
Mr. Copeland was born July 16, 1916 in Denver, Colorado. He attended East Denver High School and Barnes Business College in Denver. Mr. Copeland was employed in the field sales department of the Pontiac Division of General Motors in January, 1937. He joined the Army in April, 1941, and rose through the ranks to Technical Sergeant in the 41st Infantry Division. The division moved overseas in March, 1942 arriving in Australia in April. Mr. Copeland served in New Guinea and then attended the Officers Candidate School in Brisbane, Australia where he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant. He was then assigned to the staff of the school. He met his wife to be, Lt. Valeria Murphy of Appleton, Wisconsin, a nurse at the 42nd General Hospital in Brisbane. They were married after the war on November 10, 1945 at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver.
Lieutenant Copeland saw duty in the Philippine Islands and returned home in September, 1945. He then served as a 1st Lieutenant in the Army Reserve.
Mr. Copeland returned to General Motors in Portland, Oregon and held various field positions in Seattle, San Francisco, Milwaukee, and Pontiac, Michigan. He retired as National Sales Promotion Manager with Pontiac on July 1, 1975 and then moved to Biloxi.
Mr. Copeland was a member of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church where he served two terms as president of the Parish Council and Chairman of the Finance Committee. He also served as a lector and a Eucharistic Minister. He was also a member of the Sunkist Country Club, the Keesler Officers Club, the Retired Officers Association and the Mississippi Gulf Coast Officers Association.
Mr. Copeland was preceded in death by his wife, Valeria Copeland and his brother, Col. (Ret.) Jack M. Copeland of Biloxi. Survivors include a son, Robert Copeland and wife, Lori; a granddaughter, Larissa Copeland, all of Grand Rapids, Michigan; a sister-in-law, Ali Copeland; three nieces, Carole Hasha of Lauderdale, MS, Nancy Grovhoug of San Diego, CA and Sherry Mickelson of Denver; and a nephew, Craig Lindenmeyer of Denver. He is also survived by a very dear friend and companion, Rose Marie Rossick of Biloxi.
Visitation will be Monday, October 15, 2007 from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. with a recitation of the Rosary at 5:00 p.m., at the RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 274 Beauvoir Road, Biloxi. The funeral procession will leave the funeral home at 9:45 a.m., Tuesday, October 16 for the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church. Interment will follow at the National Cemetery in Biloxi with Military Honors.