Donald Dale Coplen, 83, North Manchester, died at 9:34 a.m. Monday, Sept. 19, 2016 at the Parkview Wabash Hospital in Wabash.

He was born Oct. 16, 1932 in Miami County to Lee Von and Cora L. (Zimmerman) Coplen. He grew up on a dairy farm and tried his hand at it for a little while after serving in the United States Army from 1953-1955 during the Korean Conflict stationed at Fort Sill. He graduated from Gilead High School in 1950 with the school mascot symbol  “Wildcats.”

Dale married Feryl Ann Fouts on Aug. 15, 1954 and she passed away Dec. 8, 1996.

He then married Beverly Jo (Lance) Simmons Feb. 15, 1998. He lived most of his life in the Gilead/Akron area before moving to North Manchester five years ago.

After farming, Dale ran a Christmas tree farm for a few years and then was employed by Sonoco Products Company in Akron where he was a shipping supervisor. He retired from there after thirty some years of service. As a retirement gift, Sonoco gave him a lifetime pass to all sporting events at Tippecanoe Valley High School, which he enjoyed so much.

After retiring, he worked part time for Shepherd GM Center in Rochester delivering and picking up vehicles for about ten years.

Dale and his first wife had four children, two boys and two girls. Dale was a coach for little league while his boys participated. Dale had a special place in his heart for Dachshunds. His last dog was a Dachshund named Pete. They would go for walks in the morning and was his special pal.

Dale was an avid Cubs fan and enjoyed fishing and going on trips to Canada with his friends. While his son was in Scotland, Dale went to visit him and thoroughly enjoyed those trips.  He also was a past member of the Akron Lions Club.  Dale was a member of the Olive Branch Church of God where he was a greeter. He loved the church and was involved in whatever he could do. He loved to garden and plant flowers. His favorite flowers were petunias and seemed to have a green thumb. He also liked to feed the birds.

Some of his evening activities included watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy on TV. He and Beverly played Yahtzee with hand held devices on the TV being very competitive. He also enjoyed playing Solitaire on his computer.

Dale was recently chosen by the Honor Flight and was planning to attend the memorials in Washington D.C. with his son Mike, on Sept. 22.  Unfortunately they were not able to go due to his untimely death.

Surviving Dale is his wife: Beverly Coplen; two sons: Donald Dale Coplen, Jr. of Huntsville, Ala.; and Michael Ray (spouse Katherine) Coplen, North Manchester; two daughters: Karen Eileen (Wayne) Conway, Fall River, Mass.; and Karna Elaine Lyons of Philadelphia, Penn.; two brothers: Robert (spouse Muriel) Coplen, Fort Wayne; and Ralph (spouse Barbara) Coplen,  Fort Wayne; one sister: Edna Ruth Chandler, Indianapolis; three stepsons: Allen Simmons,  Panama City Beach, Fla.; Timothy (spouse Michelle), Rochester, Minn.; and Lance (spouse Rhonda) Simmons, West Palm Beach, Fla.; two stepdaughters: Diane (spouse Dee) Boyd, Dallas, Texas; and Rebecca (spouse Joe) Wood, Westville, Fla.; five grandchildren, six step grandchildren, two great grandchildren.

Preceding Dale in death were his parents, three brothers: Wayne Coplen, Dean Coplen and Charles Coplen; one sister: June Brown.

Visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 at the Earl-Love Funeral Home, 811 East Rochester Street, Akron.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, September 24, 2016 at the funeral home.

Officiating the service is Senior Pastor Jeff Sumner, and Pastor Kyle Schnitz of Olive Branch Church of God.  The United States Army will render Military Honors at the service and the Fulton County Veterans Honor Guard will perform Military Rites. Burial will be in Mount Hope Hoover Cemetery, Athens, Indiana.

Memorials can be made to Olive Branch Church of God.

Earl-Love Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.