1931
Robert
2010
Robert Massie Copeland
December 2, 1931 — March 4, 2010
Robert Massie Copeland Texas, age 78, passed away on March 4th, 2010.
Bob was born on December 2nd, 1931 in Dallas, Texas and from there the adventure began. He ran away from home at the age of 13 and ended up in California after a short stint in the U.S. Merchant Marines during the part of World War II. He was a graduate of Alameda High School where he played football with the likes of Bill Walsh. Ironically, Bob played for the same San Francisco 49ers football team when it was still a semi-pro team in the Pacific Coast League.
He served in the United States Army from 1951-1956 when he was honorably discharged after the Korean Conflict. While in the Army he served in Special Services as a boxing coach and as a football coach. After the war, he attended Sacramento State Junior College where he was Junior Class President. After graduation he worked as a life guard and swimming and diving coach when he met the love of his life, Mary Patricia Russell. It was love at first sight. The two were married within months, honeymooned at the newly opened Disneyland in 1956, and then took a weekend away - deer hunting.
Bob was an executive in international sales. He started as a manager of a local retail Firestone store in California and worked his way up from there. He served as European Marketing Manager in Rome, Italy from 1968-1971, and the Managing Director of Firestone in Sydney, Australia from 1971-1976. He returned to Akron in 1976 and moved on to serve as the Vice President of International Sales for General Tire Corp where he continued to travel the world until he retired in 1987.
During his travels Bob enjoyed roadside picnics on Italy's country roads, spear fishing in Tonga, snorkeling in Tahiti, and safaris in East Africa. He was in Tehran three days before they took the U.S. Embassy and was at The Hague to negotiate reparations after the fact. He frequented Caracas, London, Paris, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Barcelona, Marbella, Tanzania, Kenya, New Guinea, and he was even in South Africa during apartheid.
No matter where he was Bob was always an AMERICAN, but was never a tourist. His thick moustache served him well during Revolutionary Iran, and in remote regions of South America. He was famous for his New Year's Day parties, and fishing and camping across the United States. He has ventured into pristine parts of the country that just don't exist any more. He would occasionally belt out show tunes, such as 'Hello Dolly', which is also ironic since his school choir teacher wouldn't let him sing and told him to just mouth the words.
He is survived by the love of life and wife of over 53 years, Mary Pat; his children, Kimberly Kris Burns, Julie Michael Savene, and Robert R. Christy Copeland; grandchildren, Alex ATAN, USN and Adam Marshall, and Robert II, Rebecca and Cody Copeland; and many friends and loved ones. His spirit, enthusiasm and sense of humor will be sorely missed. We love you Dad!
All our thanks to Summa Hospice and Bath Manor!
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated 9:30 a.m. MONDAY at St. Hilary Catholic Church, 2750 W. Market St. Friends may call at the Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel, 85 N. Miller Rd., SUNDAY from 1 to 3 p.m.
FAIRLAWN Chapel
Bob was born on December 2nd, 1931 in Dallas, Texas and from there the adventure began. He ran away from home at the age of 13 and ended up in California after a short stint in the U.S. Merchant Marines during the part of World War II. He was a graduate of Alameda High School where he played football with the likes of Bill Walsh. Ironically, Bob played for the same San Francisco 49ers football team when it was still a semi-pro team in the Pacific Coast League.
He served in the United States Army from 1951-1956 when he was honorably discharged after the Korean Conflict. While in the Army he served in Special Services as a boxing coach and as a football coach. After the war, he attended Sacramento State Junior College where he was Junior Class President. After graduation he worked as a life guard and swimming and diving coach when he met the love of his life, Mary Patricia Russell. It was love at first sight. The two were married within months, honeymooned at the newly opened Disneyland in 1956, and then took a weekend away - deer hunting.
Bob was an executive in international sales. He started as a manager of a local retail Firestone store in California and worked his way up from there. He served as European Marketing Manager in Rome, Italy from 1968-1971, and the Managing Director of Firestone in Sydney, Australia from 1971-1976. He returned to Akron in 1976 and moved on to serve as the Vice President of International Sales for General Tire Corp where he continued to travel the world until he retired in 1987.
During his travels Bob enjoyed roadside picnics on Italy's country roads, spear fishing in Tonga, snorkeling in Tahiti, and safaris in East Africa. He was in Tehran three days before they took the U.S. Embassy and was at The Hague to negotiate reparations after the fact. He frequented Caracas, London, Paris, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Barcelona, Marbella, Tanzania, Kenya, New Guinea, and he was even in South Africa during apartheid.
No matter where he was Bob was always an AMERICAN, but was never a tourist. His thick moustache served him well during Revolutionary Iran, and in remote regions of South America. He was famous for his New Year's Day parties, and fishing and camping across the United States. He has ventured into pristine parts of the country that just don't exist any more. He would occasionally belt out show tunes, such as 'Hello Dolly', which is also ironic since his school choir teacher wouldn't let him sing and told him to just mouth the words.
He is survived by the love of life and wife of over 53 years, Mary Pat; his children, Kimberly Kris Burns, Julie Michael Savene, and Robert R. Christy Copeland; grandchildren, Alex ATAN, USN and Adam Marshall, and Robert II, Rebecca and Cody Copeland; and many friends and loved ones. His spirit, enthusiasm and sense of humor will be sorely missed. We love you Dad!
All our thanks to Summa Hospice and Bath Manor!
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated 9:30 a.m. MONDAY at St. Hilary Catholic Church, 2750 W. Market St. Friends may call at the Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel, 85 N. Miller Rd., SUNDAY from 1 to 3 p.m.
FAIRLAWN Chapel
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