Roy Dale Copsey Obituary Dr. Copsey was born December 10, 1927, in Kimberly, Idaho. He attended school in Hansen and Twin Falls, Idaho, graduating in 1946 at Gooding, Idaho. He continued his studies at Northwest Christian College, Eugene, Oregon, earning a Bachelor of Theology degree in 1957. He obtained his Bachelor of Divinity from Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1962. He earned the Doctor of Ministry in 1977 from San Francisco Theological Seminary, San Anselmo, California. He was ordained as a minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 1957 by the Christian Church, Kimberly, Idaho. Dr. Copsey entered active military service in October, 1946, as an army private serving as a radar technician. He was recalled to the Air Force in October 1950, serving as a postal specialist in the grade of Sergeant at Williams AFB, Arizona. He was commissioned a Chaplain, Captain, in the Idaho Air National Guard, Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho June 7, 1963. He entered active duty January 3, 1965, and retired in the grade of Lieutenant Colonel, April 1, 1987. He served at Minot AFB, North Dakota; Pleiku AB, Republic of Vietnam; McChord AFB, Washington; Air Forces Iceland, Keflavik, Iceland; Travis AFB, California; Andersen AFB, Guam; Fort George G. Meade, Maryland; Hahn AB, Germany; and Williams AFB, Arizona. His military decorations and awards include the Bronze Star Medal; Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters; Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters; Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with “V” device and five oak leaf clusters; World War Two Victory Medal; National Defense Service Medal with star; Vietnam Service Medal with three battle stars; Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon; Air Force Overseas Long Tour Ribbon with two devices; Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon with silver oak leaf cluster; Armed Forces Reserve Medal with hourglass device; Air Force Training Ribbon; and Vietnam Campaign Medal. Dr. Copsey pastored First Christian Church, Hood River, Oregon, 1956-59; Gays-Allenville Pastoral Unity, Illinois, 1959-62; and Red Rock Christian Church, Boise, Idaho, 1962-65. In addition, he served part-time at Grace Christian Church, Savage, Maryland, 1980-82 while assigned to the National Security Agency, Fort Meade, Maryland. Following retirement from the Air Force, he served an interim at First Christian Church, Idaho Falls, Idaho, from April through September, 1987. In October, 1987, he was called to serve as associate pastor at East Mesa Christian Church, Mesa, Arizona, from which he retired July 1, 1990. In February 1991, he began an interim at First Christian Church, Globe, Arizona, which concluded October 1, 1991, upon the arrival of a permanent pastor. On November 1, 1991, he began a short-term interim with East Mesa Christian Church, serving in that position until the congregation’s permanent pastor arrived, January 1, 1992. He also served as interim minister at Creighton Christian Church, Phoenix, Arizona, from January 1 1996 to September 1, 1996. He is an active member of Chalice Christian Church, Gilbert, Arizona. Dr. Copsey is married to the former Geraldine (Gerry) M. Bell, Buhl, Idaho. They have a son, Dr. Alan D. Copsey, Deputy Solicitor General with the State Attorney General, Olympia, Washington, married to Deborah M. Feinstein, Budget Assistant to the Governor of Washington; and a daughter, Tina L. Copsey, Gilbert, Arizona, who is the Email Production Coordinator for Best Friends Animal Society, Kanab, Utah. They have one grandson, Justin Elessar Copsey; and one granddaughter, Maya J. Copsey. Dr. Copsey, a member of the Kiwanis Club of the Superstitions since 1988, has served as club president, 1994-1995; 1999-2000; 2007-2008, and Division Seventeen Lieutenant Governor, 2001-2002. He is a life member of the Military Officers Association (MOAA), and served as president of the Superstition Mountain Chapter of the Military Officers Association, 1994-1996. An amateur historian, he has an interest in the American Civil War. He is deeply involved in genealogy as a hobby and writes family stories. On October 26, 2007, Dr. Copsey was one of 18 Arizona Veterans inducted into the Arizona Veteran’s Hall of Fame with medal # 91, a group consisting of 162 veterans including the 37 who have been awarded the Medal of Honor. He also served as National Chaplain of the All 3 Wars Association, Inc. an association comprised of veterans who served on active duty in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Dale Copsey, 86, passed away on October 8, 2014 in Phoenix, AZ. Visitation will be held at 1:00 pm Friday, October 17, 2014 followed by a Funeral with Military Honors at 2:00 pm Mountain View Funeral Home Chapel 7900 E. Main St. Mesa AZ 85207
Posted on: Fri, 17 Oct 2014 16:03:25 +0000
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