Oliver Franklin Copeland, who was known to everyone as Frank, died at 4:25 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26, 1952, in St. Mary's Hospital, Decatur, Illinois. He had been in failing health for many months and had been a patient eight days in the hospital. He was aged 78 years, 5 months, and 16 days.

Mr. Copeland was born Sept. 10, 1873, on a farm several miles south of Mount Pulaski, Ill., a son of Robert and Luvina McDaniel Copeland, early day residents of the community. He attended school near his home, and devoted his time to farming. On Dec. 15, 1897, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Curtis, three miles south of the city, he married their daughter, Miss Laura Helen Curtis. The ceremony was performed by Elder L. M. Robinson. The nuptial music at that time was performed by Prof. D. H. Stubblebein, cornetist, and Miss Virgie Smedley, pianist.

Mr. and Mrs. Copeland went to housekeeping immediately on the old Copeland farm 6 miles south of Mount Pulaski, just across the Logan County line in Sangamon County. In 1930 they retired from active farm life and moved to the present home on East Cooke Street in Mount Pulaski. On Dec. 15, 1947, they observed their Golden Wedding Anniversary.

Mr. Copeland served the city for several years as Alderman of the first ward. He was a member of the Christian church, the Odd Fellows lodge, the Masonic lodge, and the Logan County Farm Bureau.

Decedent is survived by his wife; two sons, Donald and Robert; and two daughters, Mrs. LeRoy K. Buckles Sr., and Mrs. Lawrence Holmes, all of Mount Pulaski and vicinity. There are 13 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; two half-sisters, Mrs. Adrain Edwards and Mrs. Maude Penneman of Springfield, also surviving.

The body was removed to the Schahl Funeral Home, remaining there until the hour of the funeral services.

Services were held in the Mount Pulaski Christian church at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, conducted by the pastor, Rev. Robert Wilkes, assisted by Rev. Allen C. Meredith of Lincoln. Two hymns, "Abide with Me" and "Beyond the Sunset", were sung by two granddaughters, Misses Joyce and Doris Copeland, with piano accompaniment by Miss Chloe Couch of Latham. Members of the Odd fellows and Masonic lodges attended the services in a body.

Burial was in the Steenbergen cemetery four miles southwest of Mount Pulaski. Pallbearers were: Duane, Sheldon, William, and Robert Copeland; L. K. Buckles Jr.; Henry F. Buckles; and Virgil Holmes, all grandsons.

This page is "Frank Copeland Obituary" on the Logan County, Illinois, ILGenWeb site. The address of this page is http://logan.illinoisgenweb.org/copelandfrank.htm..