Frank O Coppedge

Frank O. Coppedge, formerly a resident of Merritt Island, FL, passed away quietly at the age of 101 on June 12, 2024. He was born in Brownsville, TN on 07/15/1922. The past two years he had been living in Charleston, SC with his daughter.

Frank served in the Army Air Corps during WWII, repairing aircraft radios, in India. He served in the Air Force Reserves in Texas during the Korean War.

Frank was part of the early missile launch team and started in 1956, helping launch Redstone missiles. Later, Jupiters, Saturns, Apollos, Skylab, Apollo-Soyez, and Shuttles. He worked for NASA for 27 years and retired in 1983. He took pride in having helped launch the first U.S. satellite, the first U.S. man in space, the first man on the moon, and the first U.S. Shuttle flight.

Frank Coppedge was predeceased by his daughter Marilyn and his former wife Vontelle.

He is survived by his daughter Annette Crawford, granddaughter Rachel, and great-grandsons Josiah and Jayden.

A small service is planned in July in Brownsville, TN.

No flowers necessary, but if you wish to make a donation to honor Frank, please direct it to Grace United Methodist Church, of Merritt Island, FL. Or to First Baptist Church of Cocoa, FL, or your choice of a local hospice.