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COUPER, George B. (Age 92) Passed away Friday, November 29, 2013, at Orchard Crest Retirement Center. George was born December 3, 1920 in Merritt, British Columbia, to Nellie May Pope and Archibald Brown Couper. George was raised in the Spokane Valley by his cousin, Florence Sullivan; Flora and Sullivan roads were named after the family. His mother, Nellie, worked as a chambermaid in the Davenport Hotel to help support the family. As a boy George earned money selling newspapers to the crowd at Grand Coulee Dam when they broke ground. He joined the Civilian Conservation Corps, founded by President Roosevelt, opening camp grounds and sending the money he earned home to help his mother. He joined the US Army before WWII and was eventually stationed in nearby St. Johns, Newfoundland where he met the love of his life, his wife of 72 years, Eileen Maddox. Eileen gave birth to his first daughter, Josephine Patricia, in St. Johns before his unit was transferred to Europe. As a staff sergeant with the engineers he served with General George Patten's 3rd Army in the European Campaign, he received the Bronze star in the Battle of the Bulge and was in Austria when the war ended. Three years ago he was able to travel on the Honor Flight to W.W.II memorial with his daughter, Joy, where his group received a hero's welcome and Joy placed on him a well-deserved Hero's Medal. After the war Eileen gave birth to Barbara J., George B. and Victoria E. George worked for Kaiser Aluminum in the Spokane Valley for 30 years. In his 50s, he received his pilot's license and enjoyed flying until his eyesight began to fail. He was also an avid fisherman and loved hunting, camping with his family and friends and playing his harmonica in the great outdoors. After retirement he enjoyed golfing, traveling in his motorhome and spending time in Arizona. George left us all with a heritage of loving kindness and a sense of humor. He is survived by Eileen, his wife of 72 years; four children, Joy (Gary) Cline, Barbara (Mike) Richardson, George B. Couper II and partner Bonnie, Victoria E. Smith and partner Don. He had ten grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his two sisters, Mabel and Vera; three brothers, Corliss, Dwight, and Roscoe; and two grandchildren, Terry and Christopher. Services will be held Saturday, December 7, 2013, at 11:00 AM at St. Joseph's Cemetery, 17825 E. Trent, Spokane Valley, WA. Graveside service to follow.
Published in Spokesman-Review on Dec. 4, 2013
