James Roland Coppedge Sr.

James R. Coppedge, Sr. passed away at home surrounded by family Friday, October 21, 2011, after a long and courageous fight against cancer. He was a strong inspiration for his family, friends and those he met along the way. Visitation will be from 6:00 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, October 28, at Memorial Funeral Chapel in College Station, Texas. Burial will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, at Wellborn Cemetery followed by a Celebration of Life Service at Christ United Methodist Church in College Station, Texas at 11:00 am.

He was born November 21, 1941 in Sweetwater, Texas to Arlyn B. & Mary Elizabeth Coppedge. James grew up and attended school in Benjamin, Texas, where he still has many friends and family. He graduated from Benjamin High School in 1960, and he married his high school sweetheart, Betty Jackson in December, and they moved to Lubbock, where he received a bachelor’s degree in Entomology from Texas Tech University in 1965.

After graduating, he and his family moved to College Station, and he began working with the Agricultural Research Service as an entomologist at the Insecticide Cotton Insect Research Lab in College Station. During that time, he attended Texas A&M and completed his Master’s Degree and PhD in 1971. In 1974, he and his family moved to Weslaco, Texas where he worked at the Citrus Research Lab. In 1975, he transferred to the Screwworm Research Lab in Mission, Texas as part of a team charged with developing technology to reverse the reinvasion of the Screwworm into the United States, becoming the Research Leader of the Screwworm Research Lab in 1978. In 1979, the screwworm was declared eradicated from the U.S. with the closing of the Laboratory in Mission.

In 1981, James left the federal government, and he and his family moved to Uvalde, Texas, where he established a consulting business working with cotton, corn, and vegetable growers in the Wintergarden area and with chemical company representatives worldwide. In 1989, he re-entered Federal service as the National Program Leader for Applied Entomology in Beltsville, Maryland, where he lived with his family for 5 years. Upon his return to College Station in 1994, he served as Research Leader of the Area-Wide Pest Management Research Unit, later being appointed Lab Director of the Southern Crops

Research Lab. In 1998, he was appointed Associate Area Director of the USDA Southern Plans Area, where he retired

in December 2010.

James is survived by his wife of 50 years, Betty; daughter, Lisa; daughter-in-law, Charlene Coppedge-Link; grandchildren,

Stephanie, Sarah, Justin & wife Britney, Jacob & wife Brandy, Shawna, and D.J.; great-grandchildren, Aslynn & Anthony James; sisters, Helen & husband Jimmy Green, Bobbie & husband David Valasquez, Mary Ann & husband Jerry Robinson; brothers, Gary & wife Linda Coppedge, Loyd & wife Judy Coppedge; numerous brothers & sisters-in-law, and nieces & nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Arlyn & Mary Coppedge; a sister, Betty Rhodes; and his son, James Roland Coppedge, Jr.

James enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, hunting and fishing. He especially enjoyed getting to spend time with his great-grandchildren, Aslynn and Anthony James. He loved to have parties and get-togethers for family & friends and working at his land. The family would like to express their thanks to all the many doctors and nurses who helped along his journey with

cancer, starting with Dr. Trent and his staff at MD Anderson Sarcoma Unit; Dr. Markowitz’s nurses, Becky & Edwina, who

got him through many hours of chemo and care; the nurses at St. Joseph Hospital oncology unit; Dr. Rodriguez and his

nurses, Sharon, Joy, C.J., Patty, Raquel, and Misty at Scott & White for their many hours of chemo and blood transfusions;

Hospice of Brazos Valley; and all the many others along the way who helped. Thank you to all our family, friends, & coworkers

for their prayers, support and care.

In lieu of flowers, pleasemake contributions toMD Anderson, ChristUnited Methodist Church,Hospice of Brazos Valley, or a charity of your choice.