Weldon Stone Copeland

Weldon Stone Copeland, Sr., of El Paso, passed away peacefully on October 29, 2012. He was born September 25, 1927, in Waco, Texas. Always generous with a kind heart, a strong will, and immeasurable humor and wit, he was greatly loved by his family, whom he taught by example love, honesty, kindness, and compassion.

Orphaned at the age of eleven, he, his brother Joe Hal, and his sister Wanda were sent to live with separate family members in different cities. At age twelve, he was the Duncan Yo-Yo champion in both Fort Worth and Dallas, winning new bicycles in each city, one of which he gave to his brother. He enlisted in the U. S. Navy the week after his 17th birthday and reported to basic training in January, 1945. He was a radioman on board a ship in San Francisco Bay preparing to embark for the invasion of Japan when the war ended. He was sent to the Philippines, participated in post-war activities throughout the Pacific, and returned to the United States in 1946 through the Panama Canal. After the war, he worked as a dispatcher for the Texas-New Orleans Railroad, now the Southern Pacific Railroad. He graduated from Fort Worth Paschal High School, from Texas Western (now UTEP), and from the University of Texas Law School (1958). He maintained a law practice in El Paso for thirty-two years and served as the first judge of El Paso County Court at Law #3. He was a Master Mason, a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite, and a Member of the El Maida Shrine Temple.

He was preceded in death by his parents Joe H. Copeland and Estelle Stone Copeland, and by his brother Joe Hal Copeland. He is survived by his wife Bea Copeland, his sister Wanda Anderson of Nashville, Tennessee, his daughter Carolyn Copeland Bozkurt, his sons Weldon Copeland Jr., William Copeland, Robert Mial, and Patrick Mial, by ten grand-children (two of whom are attorneys), three great-grandchildren, Margie Copeland Ruth, and many other relatives and friends. He was the leader of the band.

A visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 PM, Thursday, November 1, 2012, at Harding Orr McDaniel Funeral Home, 320 Montana Avenue. A graveside service will be held on Friday, November 2, 2012, at the Fort Bliss National Cemetery at 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Boys and Girls Clubs of El Paso or to the charity of your choice.

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