Leon Odum Copeland was born August 22, 1916 in Trumble, Texas to Everett Copeland and Vennie Osella Copeland. He married Thelma Elizabeth Hardin on February 5, 1938 in Sherman, Texas. He died Tuesday, September 15, 2015 at Beacon Hill Nursing Home in Denison, Texas at the age of 99.
Leon served his nation in the U.S. Army. After returning from service he briefly worked for Texas Power and Light. He then began a long career from 1941 to 2001 at Perrin Field. He began as a Civil Engineer for the Air Force Base. When the base closed he retired from the Civil Service and continued his work at Perrin working for the Grayson County Airport.
Leon also served his community on the Tom Bean Water Board and put in countless hours at the Pilot Grove Cemetery. Leon was a long time member of the East Sherman Baptist Church.
He is survived by wife, Thelma Copeland of Sherman; daughters, Barbara Hinton of Tom Bean and Marjorie Forehand of Tulsa, Oklahoma; son, Ricky Copeland and wife Shanee of Irving; grandchildren, Janet, Beth, Charles Jr., Dennis, Rebecca, Kris, Cody, and Collette; great-grandchildren, Kailey, Kara, Tiffaney, Cody, Tyler, Paige, Megan, Savannah, Zan, Ace, Bentley, Joel, Grayson, and Max; great-great-grandchildren, Jacob, Kailey, Brody, and Rama; brother-in-law, Billy Hardin and wife Sarah of Tom Bean; sister-in-law, Emma Walker and husband Douglas of Sherman; numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother and 3 sisters; son, Lether Copeland; and grandson, Lynn Harper.
Funeral Services will be held 2:00 PM, Saturday, September 19, 2015 at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Chapel, Whitewright, Texas. Officiating the service will be Rev. Rob Shepherd, Mr. A. C. Quinn and Granddaughter, Beth Clay. Burial will follow at Pilot Grove Cemetery in Pilot Grove, Texas. Pallbearers will be Charles Forehand, Jr., Dennis Forehand, Kris Copeland, Cody Copeland, Billy Ray Huntsman, and Larry Walker. Honorary Pallbearers will be Jeffrey Miller and Joe Michael Walker.
The family will receive friends during a visitation on Saturday, September 19, 2015 from 1:00pm until service time at 2:00pm at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home, Whitewright, Texas.
We would like to give a special thanks to his care givers, Christie and Michael Owens, Angie McClain and Lee Bryant. They gave untold hours and love to him for 7 years. They will forever be a part of us.