Richard Copeland

Richard Louis “Dick” Copeland, born June 11, 1927 in Weatherford, Texas, passed away in his home in North Little Rock on June 18, 2010, surrounded by his family. He was 83 years old. He was a caring husband, a loving father, step-father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, great-uncle and true friend to many people. He lived a long, full life, faced adversity with his health, and never complained. A US Naval veteran, he enlisted in 1944 and served in the South Pacific. He was a “Seabee” and witnessed the Bikini Atoll atomic bomb test. His tour of duty ended in 1946. An electrical engineer by trade, and an entrepreneur in spirit, he and three friends founded Arkansas Modification center in 1973. They customized business aircraft, and many celebrities, including Elvis Presley and Carey Grant were among his clients. British Aerospace purchased the business in 1983, then Raytheon took over in the 1990s, and now the company is known as Hawker Beechcraft, Inc. Dick was the last surviving partner of that visionary foursome. He survived Edwin Hendon, Robert Corriveau and Lucien Talliac. An avid outdoorsman, he traveled to Africa on safari several times and was very proud of his trophies and the time he spent with friends and family on those trips. For over ten years in the 1980s and 1990s, he owned a vast hunting ranch in South Texas and was fortunate enough to take many trips down with friends and relatives to hunt deer, havalina, quail, and dove. He traveled the world, taught himself to fly, held a special place in his heart for Studebaker and Mercedes automobiles, and was generous to a fault. Many of his family have benefited directly from his lavish gifts, that have included cars, trips, even homes. He was preceded in death by his parents “Belton” and Dannie Copeland, his first wife Edith, his sisters Flora Shaw and Linda Chalsma, and his grandson Brian McMurtray. He is survived, and missed, by his wife of thirty years, Jerry, of North Little Rock; his son Richard Don Copeland and wife, Jan, of Mayflower; his daughter, Patricia Yarberry of Cabot; two step-sons, Curt and Robert Devan; his step-daughter Jo Anne Nesto; his sister Mary Carr of Weatherford, TX; brothers-in-law, Jim Chalsma, Roy Shaw, Jack Ussery; nine grandaughters, four great-grandsons and one great-grandaughter. Many nieces and nephews and other relatives all over the country also celebrate his life. Though he was quite ill for the last twenty years of his life, he packed more life into his first sixty years than most of us ever get to experience. We will miss his stories, his smile, his presence in our lives. We are better people because we knew him and we are honored that we could grant his last request, to pass away at home. Memorial service will be 3:00 PM Monday at North Little Rock Funeral Home, 1921 Main, 758-1170. Online guestbook www.northlittlerockfuneralhome.com.

Richard Copeland

June 11, 1927 - June 18, 2010