Edith Copeland obituary: Edith Copeland's Obituary, Dove Topeka

In Memory Of
Edith Naomi Copeland
1927 - 2022

Obituary photo of Edith Copeland, Dove-KS
Obituary photo of Edith Copeland, Dove-KS

In Memory Of
Edith Naomi Copeland
1927 - 2022

Edith Naomi Copeland, 94, of Topeka, passed away Friday, January 7, 2022.

She was born February 18, 1927, in Luray, Kansas the daughter of Roy A. and Edith Lanore (Lane) Chatham. She lived on a farm in the southeast corner of Osborne County near Luray and attended a one-room school for eight years. She graduated from Osborne High School in Osborne, Kansas in 1944 and then attended Brown Mackie College in Salina, Kansas. She worked at Duckwall’s as well as the Zuenzor Paint and Appliance Store during high school and worked at Lee Hardware Wholesale House as a billing clerk during and after college.

Edith was employed by Sears and Roebuck for 21 years.

Ms. Copeland was a member of the Heritage Park Wesleyan Church of Topeka. She was the F.B.C. Coordinator of StoneCroft Ministries, J.O.Y. (Just Older Youth) of Wesleyan Church and the Better Years Fellowship.

Edith met Wesley Copeland, who was in the Army Air Corps in Salina where he was stationed at Smokey Hill Air Force Base. They joined in marriage on January 5, 1946 and were married for 56 years until Wesley passed away on January 5, 2002.

Wesley was discharged in February 1946 when they moved to Seymour, Texas. In 1948 they moved to Osborne, Kansas, with their final move being to Topeka in 1949.

Edith was a strong Christian woman and raised eight children while working tirelessly for many years. She was actively involved in her Church and other Christian organizations. She was loved and respected by family and friends and was very proud to be the grandmother of 25 grandchildren, 57 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren, all of whom have been lavished with her love and support.

Survivors include their children, Isla Faye Hada (Roger), Charles Wayne Copeland, Randall Dean Copeland (Phyllis), Linda Kay Wheeler (Tony), Melvin James Copeland (Sharon), Joanna Sue Bayless (Glen), and Shirley Ann Wheeler (Mark); 22 grandchildren; 57 great-grandchildren; eight great-great-grandchildren; sister Virginia Jones True and sister-in-law Margaret Chatham. She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; daughter Edith Jane Greene (and son-in-law Ernest) and daughter-in-law Donna Copeland; two granddaughters; one grandson; one great-grandson; and siblings Lepha Ruth Nisbett, Velma Louise True, Eulah Fay Robbins, Stella Fern Glave, Roy Chatham, Jr., Isla Nadine Dickson.

Edith cherished her faith and her family.

A funeral Ceremony will be at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, January 15, 2022 at Dove Cremations and Funerals Southeast Chapel, 2843 SE Minnesota Avenue in Topeka. Interment will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery, 3616 SW 6th Avenue in Topeka. The family will receive friends on Friday, January 14th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Dove Cremations and Funerals Southeast Chapel. Memorial contributions may be made to CrossRoads Wesleyan Church, 2030 SE 41st St, Topeka, KS 66605.

Dove Cremations and Funerals Southeast Chapel is assisting the family.

To leave a message of condolence for Edith's family or to share a special memory of Edith, click the Share Memories button above.

To view Edith's live service, please click the link below:

Livestream Service
Edith Naomi Copeland, 94, of Topeka, passed away Friday, January 7, 2022.

She was born February 18, 1927, in Luray, Kansas the daughter of Roy A. and Edith Lanore (Lane) Chatham. She lived on a farm in the southeast corner of Osborne County near Luray and attended a one-room school for eight years. She graduated from Osborne High School in Osborne, Kansas in 1944 and then attended Brown Mackie College in Salina, Kansas. She worked at Duckwall’s as well as the Zuenzor Paint and Appliance Store during high school and worked at Lee Hardware Wholesale House as a billing clerk during and after college.

Edith was employed by Sears and Roebuck for 21 years.

Ms. Copeland was a member of the Heritage Park Wesleyan Church of Topeka. She was the F.B.C. Coordinator of StoneCroft Ministries, J.O.Y. (Just Older Youth) of Wesleyan Church and the Better Years Fellowship.

Edith met Wesley Copeland, who was in the Army Air Corps in Salina where he was stationed at Smokey Hill Air Force Base. They joined in marriage on January 5, 1946 and were married for 56 years until Wesley passed away on January 5, 2002.

Wesley was discharged in February 1946 when they moved to Seymour, Texas. In 1948 they moved to Osborne, Kansas, with their final move being to Topeka in 1949.

Edith was a strong Christian woman and raised eight children while working tirelessly for many years. She was actively involved in her Church and other Christian organizations. She was loved and respected by family and friends and was very proud to be the grandmother of 25 grandchildren, 57 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren, all of whom have been lavished with her love and support.

Survivors include their children, Isla Faye Hada (Roger), Charles Wayne Copeland, Randall Dean Copeland (Phyllis), Linda Kay Wheeler (Tony), Melvin James Copeland (Sharon), Joanna Sue Bayless (Glen), and Shirley Ann Wheeler (Mark); 22 grandchildren; 57 great-grandchildren; eight great-great-grandchildren; sister Virginia Jones True and sister-in-law Margaret Chatham. She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; daughter Edith Jane Greene (and son-in-law Ernest) and daughter-in-law Donna Copeland; two granddaughters; one grandson; one great-grandson; and siblings Lepha Ruth Nisbett, Velma Louise True, Eulah Fay Robbins, Stella Fern Glave, Roy Chatham, Jr., Isla Nadine Dickson.

Edith cherished her faith and her family.

A funeral Ceremony will be at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, January 15, 2022 at Dove Cremations and Funerals Southeast Chapel, 2843 SE Minnesota Avenue in Topeka. Interment will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery, 3616 SW 6th Avenue in Topeka. The family will receive friends on Friday, January 14th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Dove Cremations and Funerals Southeast Chapel. Memorial contributions may be made to CrossRoads Wesleyan Church, 2030 SE 41st St, Topeka, KS 66605.

Dove Cremations and Funerals Southeast Chapel is assisting the family.

To leave a message of condolence for Edith's family or to share a special memory of Edith, click the Share Memories button above.

To view Edith's live service, please click the link below:

Livestream Service

Services & Gatherings

Visitation

Friday, January 14, 2022 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm
Dove Cremations & Funerals - Southeast
2843 SE Minnesota
Topeka, KS 66605
Directions & Map

Service

Saturday, January 15, 2022 at 1:00pm
Dove Cremations & Funerals - Southeast
2843 SE Minnesota
Topeka, KS 66605
Directions & Map

Interment

Memorial Park Cemetery
3616 SW 6th Avenue in Topeka

Southeast Chapel (785-266-6700) is assisting the family

Southeast Chapel (785-266-6700) is assisting the family

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