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Fred Lane Copeland

Posted 2008-06-09 by Sharon
The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona
January 15, 2004

Fred Lane Copeland left his body on January 10th in East Mesa. He was born August 2, 1926 in DeLeon, Texas, son of Brooks Copeland and Christine Hampton Copeland.

It is fitting that Fred left his tired body on a Sabbath, yet he had a deep love for God and had studied the Bible for many years in the original Hebrew and Greek languages.

Fred graduated from North High School in Phoenix in 1943 at the age of 16. He attended Pepperdine College for three years and received his bachelor's degree with a Bible major from Abilene Christian College in 1948.

He preached and led songs for several churches over the years. He had a strong desire for unity among Christians. He wrote books of devotion using hymns and scripture, printing and distributing these at his own expense.

He wrote a book "A Voice Crying in the Wilderness" about his faith journey, and also an unfinished Health Book. He learned to play the organ and occasionally played for services at East Mesa Care Center, where he last lived.

Fred's employment included being a draftsman for the power company in Prescott and many years as bookkeeper for the Coca-cola Bottling Company in Safford. He later became a chemist and assayer, working for the Iron King Mine near Prescott, and mines in Morenci and near Bullhead City, Arizona, and Pinoche, Nevada. For a time he had his own assay shop in Prescott. He created an extensive hiking map of trails in the Prescott area which was adapted by the Sheriff's Department for search and rescue work. Fred never married. He had a severe hearing problem from childhood, but became an excellent writer and communicator.

He is survived by two sisters, Lena Thomas of McAlester, OK, and Jean Knox of Port Orchard, WA, as well as several nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be held Friday January 16th at 10 a.m. at Wickenburg Cemetery where he will be buried near his parents and grandparents.

His grandfather, Dr. James A. Copeland, founded the Wickenburg hospital.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to Korea Christian Gospel Mission. PO Box 25886, Tempe, AZ 85285.


See Also: Find a Grave




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