Paul D. Copenhaver

Paul D. Copenhaver was known as many things to many people. He was a loved one, a friend, and someone special. To family and friends who knew him best, Paul will be remembered as a very exceptional person.

       He was the son of Daniel and Nellie May Copenhaver.

       Empathic and loyal, Paul was committed to making his new family happy.

      Paul worked hard to be a good father to his children and he did his best to fulfill their needs. Paul was blessed with two sons, Paul and James and two daughters, Cecilia and Rose.

      Paul was an U. S. Marine Corps veteran. His fellow soldiers viewed him as a brother in arms and knew that he was as much a part of their family as their loved ones back home.

      Paul enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. His favorite pursuits were working in his garage repairing cars, rebuilding a boat, making improvements to his home or fixing just about anything for a family member, friend, or neighbor. He was content to enjoy his favorite pastimes alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

      Paul passed away on March 18, 2016 in Colleyville, Texas. He is survived by Paul is survived by his wife Hope and 4 children:Cecilia Spiva of Watauga,TX, Rose Roberson and husband Duane of Watauga TX, Paul Copenhaver Jr. and wife Sherry of Roanoke, TX , James Copenhaver of Silverton. OR “Papaw” had 7 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren who are responsible for much of his frustration, his pride and so many of his smiles. Services were held at Bluebonnet Hills Funeral Home Memorial Park in Colleyville, Texas. Paul was laid to rest in Bluebonnet Hills Memorial Park in Colleyville, Texas.

      Simply stated, Paul was a good and kind person, an individual who will for all time be remembered by his family and friends as being a caring and giving person, someone who was a vital part of their lives. Paul leaves behind him a legacy of life-long friendships and many cherished memories. Everyone whose life he touched will always remember Paul D. Copenhaver.

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Paul Drake Copenhaver, 92, of Colleyville, Texas, a husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend to many passed away peacefully in his home, surrounded by family, on Friday, March 18.

Born in Wallace, West Virginia to Daniel and Nellie May (Custer) Copenhaver, Paul was the son of a farmer and youngest of 12 children. Inventive and self reliant, Paul left the family farm in 1943 to join the U.S. Marine Air Corp. and serve our country in WWII. He was stationed in Quantico VA., the Philippines, and China. There he oversaw the maintenance and rebuilding of several types of aircraft including Curtiss Helldivers and F4U Corsairs. After the war Paul found himself in Tulsa, Oklahoma where he met and married, Hope Nieto, his wife of more than 70 years. In 1949 they moved to Ft. Worth where he went to work for Convair/General Dynamics as a tool designer. A few years later in 1953 Paul and Hope moved to Colleyville where they spent many evenings and weekends building their growing family’s home. In 1962 Paul went to work as a design engineer and draftsman for Dahlgren Manufacturing and worked in the printing industry for the rest of his career. Intelligent, inquisitive, and a life long learner he was lured out of retirement at age 70. He learned to use a computer and CAD software to help design components and printing hardware that earned him three US patents.

Paul loved to work in his garage repairing cars, rebuilding a boat, making improvements to his home or fixing just about anything for a family member, friend, or neighbor. He was always applying his "MacGiver like" talents to solve any kind of challenge or problem. Paul will be remembered by many for his wealth of knowledge and opinions on all manner of subjects. He loved to talk and was always willing to share or teach, so it was best if you brought a chair.

To his family he was “Papaw”, and He was endlessly committed to them. He was always willing to help anyone in the family if something was broken, or if someone was broke. He was a generous, caring and humble man who left a legacy of love and inspired everyone who knew him to be a better person.

Paul is survived by his wife Hope and 4 children:

Cecilia Spiva of Watauga,TX, Rose Roberson and husband Duane of Watauga TX, Paul Copenhaver Jr. and wife Sherry of Roanoke, TX , James Copenhaver of Silverton. OR

“Papaw” had 7 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren who are responsible for much of his frustration, his pride and so many of his smiles.