Arnold Dean Cope, 85 of Whitesburg passed away on August 5, 2026 at The Heritage Center in Morristown, Tennessee. “Dean” was born August 28, 1940 to Ank and Zelmer Cope. He was a member of Thankful Missionary Baptist Church and served many years there as a deacon and Sunday School teacher. Dean loved the Lord and was saved at Fairfield Baptist Church when he was 16 years old.
Dean retired from Foamex International and spent several of his later years working at the Great Smoky Mountains Expo Center.
Dean was preceded in death by his son, Roger Cope; his parents Ank and Zelmer Cope; brothers Pryor “Bud” (Bobbie) Cope and Hubert (Bernell) Cope; sisters Lavie (Calvin) Hileman, Vanice (Andrew) Davis, Gearlene Musick and Sandra (Eddie) Akers; in-laws Mack and Pearl Drinnon; brothers-in-law Charles McCracken, Rev Lee Seal, Tommy Drinnon, Johnny Drinnon and Mackie Drinnon; sisters-in-law Nancy (Bud) McCravey, and several nieces and nephews.
He is survived by his loving, faithful wife of 65 years, Margaret Cope; daughter Balinda (Donnie) McKinney; grandchildren Roger Cope, Gabrielle (Larry) Waldron of Kingsport, TN, Moriah (Casey) Smith of Morristown; great grandchildren Alex Cope of Bulls Gap, Adley & Hallie Smith of Morristown, Micah & Cutler Waldron of Kingsport, and another Smith great granddaughter on the way; brother Kenneth (Joyce) Cope of Bull Gap, sister Winnie McCracken, special family friend Jason “Pud” Cotter.
The family will receive friends from 4-7 p.m. Sunday, August 9, 2026 at Thankful Missionary Baptist Church in Morristown. Funeral service will follow the visitation at 7 p.m. with Rev Barren Warren, Rev Greg Ellison and Rev J.W. Dalton officiating. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m Monday, August 10, 2026 at Hamblen Memory Gardens in Morristown.
