Ruth Ellen Burnham Copeland

Ruth Ellen Burnham Copeland

A memorial service for Ruth Ellen Copeland, 84, was held on March 8, 2007, at the Veile Mortuary Chapel in Worland with Rev. Grover Briggs officiating. Cremation followed the service with the ashes to be scattered at a later date.

She died on March 5, 2007, at Worland Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center.

Ruth was born on Jan. 9, 1923, at Danville, Ill., to Leslie W. and Ruby Delila (Keefer) King. When she was a small child, the family moved to Los Angeles, where she graduated from Fremont High School in 1941.

On April 1, 1942, she married Gale Burnham in Los Angeles, Calif. The family moved to Lusk in 1946 after Gale's discharge from the U.S. Army. He preceded her in death in 1960.

Ruth married George D. "Cope" Copeland in Lusk in 1967. They first moved to Kuwait and remained there for five years as Cope worked in the oil fields. They returned to the USA and moved to Worland in 1972. He preceded her in death in 1986. Prior to his death, Ruth and Cope enjoyed their summers in their camper trailer parked at Deer Haven in the Big Horn Mountains.

She was an active member of the Worland Does where she held most offices, including the post of President for six years. Ruth served as the State President of the Wyoming Does in 1982. She also was a member of the Eagles Auxiliary, V.F.W. Auxiliary, and the American Legion Auxiliary.

She enjoyed playing darts and was an avid bowler, winning many trophies in both sports.

Besides her husbands, her parents, a stepdaughter, Mary Lou Copeland Bower, and her sisters, Helen and Naomi, preceded her in death.

Survivors include: her children - Susanne Cross and her husband Tim of Douglas; Jon Burnham and his wife Jan of Douglasville, Ga.; Janice Fleet and her husband Sam of Shawnee, Kan.; and Dana Vineyard and her husband J.D. of Wheatland, and a stepson, Wallace "Butch" Copeland of Las Vegas, Nev.; her sister, Margaret Passe of Venice, Calif.; 10 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and two great great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made in her name to Worland Healthcare & Rehab Center; the Alzheimer's Affiliation of Wyoming at P.O. Box 1493, Casper, WY 82602; a charity of the donor's choice; or to The Gideon's International through a local Protestant Church.

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