Memorial Service with military honors for Mr. Larry Copeland will be held on Friday, March 14, 2014, 3:00 p.m., at Shelton Funeral Home in Decatur, AL. The family will receive friends for one hour prior to service.
Clarence “Larry” Copeland, USAF SMSGT retired, age 71, of Elmore, AL, passed away on Friday, March 7, 2014, at his residence.
Larry was born October 20, 1942, to Clarence Collier Copeland and Edna Catherine Copeland in Gadsden, AL. He graduated from Decatur High School in 1961, where he played football and remained an active member of the graduating class reunions.
Growing up in Decatur, he had six brothers and a sister: Reba Nell Decker of Gadsden (deceased); Billy Collier Copeland of Hartselle; James Edward Copeland of Hartselle; Robert Earl Copeland of Hartselle; Roger Dale Copeland of Decatur (deceased); Jimmy Wayne Copeland of Odenville; and Ronald Shawn Copeland of Birmingham.
Larry earned his Master’s of Human Resources Management Degree from Troy State University in Montgomery on June 10, 1998, received his Bachelor’s Degree on June 10, 1996, and four other Associates Degrees.
He joined the United States Air Force on June 15, 1961; completed basic training at Lackland AFB, TX, and attended personnel technical school at Greenville AFB, MS. In 1967, he volunteered for “Project Lime Light” duty and was assigned to Bien Hoa Air Base, Vietnam. He received numerous military decorations and awards, including the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with two devices, Air Force Achievement Medal with one device, Distinguished-Presidential Unit Citation Award, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with seven devices, and Combat Readiness Medal.
He loved golfing, fishing, playing poker, Alabama football, spending time with his friends, and most importantly, being with his family.
He is survived by his loving wife of 30 years, Angela Scott Copeland; his daughters, Patricia Ellen Copeland Ray (Jeff) of Decatur, Kathryn Marie Copeland of Decatur, and Marcey Lee Copeland Hill of Hartselle; their exchange student who became their son, Sergei Sviridov of Montgomery; three stepchildren, Monica Louise Jordan (husband, Jeff, deceased) of Montgomery, Jewell Michele Evans (Tom) of Birmingham, and Mark Ernest Keesee (Michelle) of Atlanta; seven grandchildren, Sydney Paige Shumaker of Decatur, Joseph “Hunter” Shumaker of Phoenix, AZ, Jeffrey “Dylan” Ray of Decatur, Daniel Shane Perry of Hartselle, and Steven Andrew “Drew” Hill, Ashlee Marie Hill, and Zoe Paige Hill, all of Trinity; six step-grandchildren, Jeff Michael Jordan and Savannah Michelle Jordan of Montgomery, Julian Robert Evans, Nolan Thomas Evans, and Emma Jewell Evans, all of Birmingham, and Luke James Keesee of Atlanta; and one step-great-grandchild, Raelyn Annelise Chavis of Montgomery.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorial donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P. O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.
