Joseph Aurther Copeland, of Vienna, Missouri, was born on September 25, 1920, in St. Louis, Missouri, a son of James Oliver "Ollie" and Ida Agusta (Kremmel) Copeland, and departed this life at 9:14 A.M., Tuesday morning, November 29, 2011, at his farm residence in MariesCounty. Mr. Copeland had attained the age of 91 years, 2 months, and 4 days.

Mr. Copeland was united in marriage on August 30, 1941, at Waynesville, to the former Madeline Marcella Duke, and to this union two children were born. He was preceded in death by his wife on December 29, 2000; his father in 1943; his mother in 1953; two brothers, Frank Copeland and Julious "Doc" Copeland; and two sisters, Ruby Snodgrass and Elsie Backues.

He was a United States Army Veteran and was a farmer most of his working life. He was a paid-for-life member of the Coffee Brothers American Legion Post Number 12, Vienna, where he served as Commander for several years. He was baptized early in life and was a member of the UnionHillBaptistChurch where he served as a Deacon for several years. For thirty years he was a member of the Maries County Fair Board and on the Maries County Board of Education for twenty-five years.

Those left to mourn the passing of Mr. Copeland include: one son and daughter-in-law, Joseph Henry and Sharon Copeland, Florissant; one daughter and son-in-law, Marcella Marie and Herbert Allen Salts, Vienna; one sister, Golda Russell; three grandchildren, Colleen Sue and Jeff Waldron, Leah Marie and Eric Morgan, and Aurther Allen and Melissa Salts; five great-grandchildren, Jesse Salts, Alex Waldron, Adrianna Waldron, Joseph Aurther Salts, and Paige Waldron; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Precious memories of Mr. Copeland will remain in the heart of his dear family and all who knew and loved him.

After resting in the Vienna Chapel of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Homes, funeral services were conducted for Mr. Copeland at 11:00 A.M., Saturday morning, December 3, 2011, in the UnionHillBaptistChurch, Vienna, with Rev. Floyd Leimkiller, pastor, officiating. Audrey Hancock sang "I'll Fly Away", "Amazing Grace" "Angel Band", and "Shall We Gather AtThe River" for the funeral service with Brenda Davis accompanying at the piano.

Interment was in the UnionHillCemetery under the direction of the Vienna Chapel of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Homes. Active pallbearers for Mr. Copeland were Layman Adkins, David Adkins, Dallas Snodgrass, Donald Snodgrass, Francis Hohenstreet, and Carrell Hohenstreet. Honorary pallbearers were John Backus, Bill Duke, Jim Russell, Delmar Snodgrass, Dennis Snodgrass, Edward Duke, Herbert Adkins, Bill Snodgrass, and Charles Halbrook.

Memorials are suggested to Breast Cancer Research or the Union Hill perpetual care fund with envelopes available at the Vienna Office of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Homes.

Online condolences may be emailed to birminghammartin@att.net