Johnnie E. Copeland, Jr. | Eastern NC Now

    Mr. Johnnie Edward Copeland, Jr., age 88, a resident of 8085 NC 99 N, Pantego, NC died Friday June 12, 2015 at the home of his son.

    A funeral service will be held 3:00 p.m. Tuesday June 16, 2015 at Pike Road Church of Christ officiated by Larry Wilson. Burial will follow in Davis Cemetery. Eddie Spencer, Trey Manning, Tim Copeland, Stephen Fletcher, Jonathan Fletcher and Anthony Fletcher will serve as pallbearers.

    The family will receive friends 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday June 15, 2015 at Paul Funeral Home of Belhaven and other times at the home of Mr. Copeland's son, Bryan, located at 783 Pike Road, Pantego.

    Mr. Copeland was born in Beaufort County on June 18, 1926 son of the late Johnnie Edward Copeland, Sr. and the late Florine Latham Copeland. He attended Pantego High School before serving his country in the U.S. Navy where he actively served during World War II. On August 11, 1951 he married the former June Ella Paul who preceded him in death on January 18, 2000. Mr. Copeland worked for forty seven years with Weyerhaeuser of Plymouth and at the time of his retirement in 1991 was a turbine operator. He was a member of Pike Road Church of Christ, Pungo Ruritan Club, American Legion of Belhaven and Riverside Hunting Club. Mr. Copeland modeled his life following scripture of the Holy Bible and loved his God first, family second and neighbor third.

    Survivors include two sons: Bryan Copeland and his wife Pam of Pantego and Kevin Copeland of Thailand; a daughter: Linda C. Carawan and her husband Rex of Pantego; a sister: Florine C. Fletcher of Pantego; five grandchildren: Kelly Cahoon, Melinda Paul, Megan Dew, Jordan Carawan and Ryan Carawan and eight great grandchildren: Tyler Cahoon, Abbey Cahoon, Ford Cahoon, Evan Dew, Collin Dew, Eli Paul, Brody Paul and Corbin Paul. Mr. Copeland was preceded in death by a grandson: Christopher Carawan and two brothers: Latham Copeland and Douglas Copeland.