Joe Donald Copeland

Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday, September 1, 2016 at Collier-Butler Chapel for Joe Donald Copeland, 93, of Gadsden, who passed away, Monday, August 29, 2016. Rev. Larry Fuhrman and Rev. Mat Alexander will officiate. Burial will be at Forrest Cemetery. Collier-Butler Funeral and Cremation Services is directing.

Joe was born in Blountsville, AL but came to Gadsden with his family at an early age. He graduated from Gadsden High School in 1941 and attended Central Washington University. After the attack on Pearl Harbor Joe married his high school sweetheart, Nancy Little and volunteered into the US Air Force. He was accepted for pilot training and upon graduation he became a B17 pilot during World War II. He was recalled to active duty during the Korean War and after serving 2 more years, returned to the family business, Copeland Glass Company. Later he was the founder and owner of The Decorator Store and Nancy’s Antiques. Joe was a longtime member and Deacon of First Baptist Church Gadsden and a member of Stivender Sunday School Class.

Mr. Copeland was preceded in death by his parents, Clate and Fannie Robbins Copeland; son, E. Cliff Copeland; brothers, Hugh, Hobart and Rob Copeland; and sisters Alberta (Walter) Pruitt, Fanny Mary (CB) Johnson, and Dee (Lucius) Kenner.

He is survived by his wife of 74 years, Nancy Little Copeland; daughter, Carolyn (Carl) Maddox; daughter-in-law, Donna Ross Copeland; grandchildren, Seth (Deanne) Copeland of Trumann, AR, Anna Copeland (Alex) Enseroth of Mobile, AL, Jennifer Maddox of Detroit, MI, and Michael Maddox of Huntsville, AL; and great-grandchildren, Anaca, Breckin, Cadence, and Daxton Copeland of Trumann, AR.

Honorary pallbearers will be the members of MOAA and the Stivender Sunday School Class.

The family will receive friends from1:00-2:00 p.m. prior to the service.

Online condolences may be made at www.collier-butler.com.