Sergeant Major Eugene Cope (Ret.), 87, passed away on January 29, 2022. Eugene was born in Carbondale, Georgia and had a distinguished 30-year career in the Army working in the Explosive Ordinance Division (EOD). After he retired from the Army, he worked at Redstone Arsenal at Combat Development from 1980 until his retirement in 1995. He graduated with two Bachelor of Science degrees from the University of the State of New York (1975) and Athens State University (1977).
He is survived by his wife and the love of his life of 69 years, Andree, whom he met while serving in France 70 years ago. They had two children, Josiane (d. 2021) and Danny (Donna), and eventually settled in Huntsville in the early 1960s. He retired as a Sergeant Major and was the recipient of the Legion of Merit, Six Purple Hearts, Army Commendation Medal w/3rd Oak Leaf Cluster and V Device; Bronze Star w/2nd Oak Leaf Cluster; along with dozens of other commendations. Eugene was inducted into the Madison County, Alabama Hall of Heroes in 2019.
The son of Leroy and Ruth Cope, Eugene was preceded in death by his daughter, Josiane Cope Davis, and siblings, William, Pearle Mae, Herschel, and Harold, and is survived by many nieces and nephews in Georgia. He is also survived by grandchildren, Chris Davis, Brad Davis (Becky), Shelley Stisher (Donovan); and great-grandchildren, Tyler Davis, Andrew Davis, Alex Davis, Miriam Rozar, Dylan Stisher, and Crosby Stisher.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Wednesday, February 2 at Laughlin Service Funeral Home, with the funeral immediately following in the chapel. Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Still Serving Veterans (https://ssv.org/).
