Joseph Kirk Copeland

Joseph Kirk Copeland died at his home on September 30, 2013. He was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on November 30, 1940, and was the son of Dr. Joseph J. and Glenda Mullendore Copeland. The family lived in Frederick, Oklahoma; Denton, Texas; Knoxville, Tennessee and Maryville, Tennessee. Kirk graduated from West High School in Knoxville and Maryville College. He worked for the Bank of Maryville and then was hired by Park Bank in Knoxville to work in the new computer department. From there he went to the Aluminum Company of America in Alcoa, Tennessee; Union Camp Corporation in Savannah, Georgia; Tennessee Forging Steel in Harriman, Tennessee; Siskin Steel in Chattanooga and then to Magnovox/Philips Consumer Electronics in Greeneville, Tennessee in 1978, retiring in 2001.

Kirk enjoyed playing sports – soccer, softball, tennis and track where he excelled in running hurdles. In later years, he enjoyed riding the family’s Arabian horse on mountain trails. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Greeneville, and spent a number of years as a youth leader. He also enjoyed coaching youth soccer.

Kirk is survived by his wife, Kathleen; son, Matthew; daughter-in-law, Jodie Carter-Copeland; grandchildren, Gracie and Harris; sister, Karen Copeland Gray; brother-in-law, Meldrum (Terry) Gray; and nephew Jolyon C. Gray. His family also includes his mother-in-law, Gloria England Smith, Cheryl and Richard Stoddard, Pamela and David Potter, six nieces and nephews and their spouses, eight great nieces and nephews, his “other” sons, Kenny Benson, Jason Arthur, Deon Avery and Nathan Humbard; and very special family friends, Bea, Steve, J., Jan, Tyler and Abby Corbitt. Kirk was also close to his many Mullendore and Copeland cousins.

A service for remembering Joseph Kirk Copeland will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Greeneville at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12.

A reception and time for visiting will be held in the Simon Room of the church at 1 p.m. before the service and again immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Youth Program of First Presbyterian Church, 110 N. Main St., Greeneville, TN 37743, or to Alzheimer's Tennessee, Inc., in memory of Glenda Mullendore Copeland, P.O. Box 10088, Knoxville, TN 37939, or to Remote Area Medical, 1834 Beech St., Knoxville, TN 37920 (http://www.ramusa.org/contactus/donate.htm) or to the charity of the giver's choice.