William Perry Copus (“Bill”) was born on February 20, 1923 to Zacky Wade and Myrtle Lucille Copus in Plano, Texas. He went to be with the Lord on June 3, 2013, at the age of 90 years. He departed from this life in peace and in the certain knowledge of his Savior, Jesus.
Bill graduated from Plano Senior High School, Plano, Texas in 1941. He joined the United States Navy following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December, 1941. He served with honor as a Warrant Officer in the Naval Air Corps in the Pacific Theater of Operations.
Upon the completion of his naval service, he moved to Hutchinson, Kansas, where he worked as a salesman for an Oxygen supply company. He later took employment with Royal Typewriter Company, where he worked more than 14 years. He was often honored as Royal’s Top Salesman.
In 1959 Bill met Sally Ann Florian, who later became his cherished wife until his departure from this life. They founded Executive Services Corporation, a direct marketing and computer services firm in 1961, which they sold to a publicly-traded company in 1987.
In family, he was a loving husband; in life, an unending optimist; in baseball, a solid shortstop; in leadership, a generous employer; in business, an honest man; in fishing, the bane of crappie (and salmon!) everywhere; in his community, a blessing to all who knew him; and in his soul, of unquenchable faith.
Bill was baptized in his youth, and was confirmed as an adult at Grace Lutheran Church in Lexington, Missouri in 2009. He was very involved in the life of the Church until his health issues overtook him in his last months.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Zeke and James; and sister, Ora Mackie. He is survived by his wife, Sally Ann Copus, of the home; two daughters, Mary Lucille Wong and Cynthia Alayne Collum, both of Allen, Texas; two sons, Randall Wade Copus and wife, Pamela of Allen, Texas, and William Perry Copus, Jr. and wife, Belinda of Lexington, Missouri; and sister, Wanda Nelson, of Mesquite, Texas; Grandchildren: Peter, Zachary and Caleb Copus, of Lexington, Missouri; and Sarah Copus, of Allen, Texas.
Visitation will be held at Grace Lutheran Church, 801 S. Bus. Hwy 13, Lexington, Missouri, on Thursday, June 6th from 6:30-8:00 PM. The funeral service will also be held at Grace Lutheran, Lexington on Friday, June 7th, at 11 AM. A graveside burial service will be held among family and close friends only at Ridgeview Memorial Park, Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home in Allen, Texas on Monday, June 10th at 10:30 AM. A public memorial service will also be held on Monday, June 10th at Faith Lutheran Church, 1701 E. Park Blvd., Plano, Texas at 3PM.
Memorials in lieu of flowers may be made to Grace Lutheran Church, Lexington, Missouri, and are designated to the Bell Tower Project.