Ralph William Copeland, 93, of Friendship, died April 7 at the Knox Center in Rockland. He was born Sept. 3, 1921 in Thomaston to Stanley and Fannie (Grafton) Copeland. Ralph attended school in Friendship and graduated from Friendship High School.
He married Eleanor Louise Benner on Sept. 3, 1942. He was drafted a few weeks later into the U.S. Army-Air Corps during WWII. He completed several weeks of basic training and spent four months of extensive training in Aircraft Mechanic School in Lincoln, Neb. After completing several months of training, he left with his squadron from New York City on the Queen Elizabeth headed for England. They landed off the shore of Scotland, where the Germans were waiting across the English Channel. They were offloaded by small boats and put on a train for England.
After D-Day, he moved to France with the 9th Air Force to provide support for General Patton. The 362nd Fighter Group was awarded two Presidential Citations on a recommendation from General Patton for their exceptional support. Ralph spent two years in France with the 362nd Fighter Group. The 362nd was scheduled to be moved to the Pacific when news came that the war had ended.
After the war, he delivered mail from Friendship to Thomaston. In 1949, he decided to give lobstering a try, and ultimately decided to return to delivering mail, which he did until he retired in 1996 after 37 years of service.
He was a lifetime member of the Stone-Scott-Watson V.F.W. Post #3095 in Friendship, N.R.A., and the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine. He was very proud of the fact that four generations of his family were life members of the N.R.A. He was also a member of the 362nd Fighter Group Association.
He was predeceased by his wife, Eleanor (Benner) Copeland; sister-in-law, Glenys Simmons; and brother-in-law, Leslie Overlock.
He is survived by daughter, Viola Davis and husband Blaine of Friendship; sister, Ruth Overlock of Wallingford, Conn.; grandchildren, Blaine Davis and wife CarolAnn of Cumming, Ga., and Daniel Davis and wife Jean of Friendship; great-grandchildren, Amber Reed of Hollis Center, Vanessa Davis of Friendship, and Courtney, Joshua, and Zachary Davis, all of Cumming, Ga.; brother-in-law, Carl Simmons of Friendship; nieces, Lucille Blackler of Daphne, Ala., and Jeanette Hayes-Geisler of Waldoboro; and nephew, Gilbert Simmons of Friendship.
Friends are welcome to join the family for a time of visitation from 6-8 p.m., Wed., April 15 at Hall’s of Waldoboro, 949 Main St., Waldoboro. A service with military honors to celebrate Ralph’s life will be 1 p.m., Thurs., April 16 at Hall’s of Waldoboro. Rev. Robert Dorr will officiate. Burial will be in the Harbor Cemetery in Friendship later in the spring.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Ralph’s memory may be made to Stone-Scott-Watson V.F.W. Post #3095, P.O. Box 114, Friendship, ME 04547.
You can share a condolence with the family by visiting www.hallfuneralhomes.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to Hall’s of Waldoboro, 949 Main St., Waldoboro.
