Dr. Harold L. Copenhaver

Dr. Harold Copenhaver, 95, of Jonesboro, passed away Thursday, December 22, 2016, at NEA Baptist Medical Center in Jonesboro.

Born in Girard, Kansas, Dr. Copenhaver attended a one-room school through the eighth grade and was a 1939 graduate of Girard High School where he had perfect attendance and was never tardy for class. Dr. Copenhaver attended Kansas State Teachers College in Pittsburgh where he majored in music and became proficient in typing and shorthand. Following his first semester of college, Dr. Copenhaver moved to Washington, DC where he utilized his typing and shorthand skills and began working for the War Department.

In 1942, Dr. Copenhaver joined the Army Air Corps at Bolling Air Base. He earned rank rapidly and within a short period was named staff sergeant, the youngest on Bolling Field. He was later promoted to Tech Sergeant and in 1947 passed the examination which qualified him as a Second Lieutenant and he became the second officer in the Army Air Force music program. During his military career, Dr. Copenhaver directed the USAF Band in Washington, DC and the USAF Academy Band in Colorado Springs. While on active duty, Dr. Copenhaver performed and conducted in 21 countries and on three continents. He served as musician and was commandant of the US Air Force Academy Band in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and served as chief of bands and music at the Pentagon, in which he was responsible for a total of 75 Air Force Bands. He also performed and conducted for the Queen of England, and Presidents Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson.

One of the darker weeks of his career was following the assassination of President Kennedy on November 22, 1963. Dr. Copehnaver was called to the White House and met personally with Jackie Kennedy who made all of the decisions concerning her husband's funeral arrangements. Dr. Copenhaver led the USAF Drum and Bugle Corps at funeral service. Dr. Copenhaver retired from active duty in 1964 with the rank of Major.

Dr. Copenhaver earned Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral degrees in Music Education from American University in Washington,DC.

Dr. Copenhaver was professor of Brass and Assistant to the Vice President of Instruction at Northeast Missouri State University in Kirksville, Missouri. In 1970, Dr. Copenhaver began a career with Arkansas State University, serving as Dean of the College of Fine Arts. He was a member of Cornerstone United Methodist Church where he served two terms as Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Dr. Copenhaver was past president of the Missouri Music Educators Association, past president of the Jonesboro Forum Commission, past president of the Jonesboro Rotary Club and past president of the Arkansas Deans Association. He was preceded in death by his parents: Jess and Juanita Cuthbertson Copenhaver, and by a daughter, Lanita Copenhaver.

Survivors include his wife of 70 years, Ladye Barlow Copenhaver of the home;
1 son and daughter-in-law: Harold R. and Kathleen Copenhaver of Jonesboro;
2 daughters and son-in-law: Sharon Copenhaver of Jonesboro, and Nancy and James Gingrich of Clarence, Missouri;
8 grandchildren and spouses: Lauren and Michael Nunnally, Austin Lee Copenhaver, Benjamin Myles Copenhaver, Julie and Scott Steed, Nathan and Stephanie Irsch, Wendy and Bill Mueller, Marshall and Sheila Gingrich and Paige and Travis Davenport; and
12 great grandchildren: Jack, Landry, Ryan, Macy, Carson, Denver, Marlie, Lance, Hayden, Will, Morgan and Baylee.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 27, 2016, at Emerson Memorial Chapel with Rev. Chris Hemund officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow in Jonesboro Memorial Park.

Active pallbearers include Nathan Irsch, Myles Copenhaver, Austin Copenhaver, Michael Nunnally, Marshall Gingrich and Scott Steed. Honorary pallbearers include Bob Ferralasco, Vance Sales, Charles Rasberry, Bill Hansard, Russ Shain, Skip Martin, Jerry Bowen, Ron Looney, Tom O'Connor and Richard Carvell.

Visitation will be from 10-11:00 a.m. Tuesday, preceding the service.

For lasting memorials, the family asks that consideration be given to Cornerstone United Methodist Church, 1910 Disciple Dr., Jonesboro, AR 72401, or to the charity of the donor's choice.