David E. Copher

David E Copher, M.D. 75, of Indianapolis, passed away on March 27, 2008 at the St. Vincent Hospice Facility. Dr. Copher was born April 5, 1932 in Elwood, Indiana to the late Everett and Dolly (Fesler) Copher. He attended Indiana University in Bloomington, IN from 1950 until 1951. He then served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was honorably discharged in 1955. In 1955 he received his Associate's degree from Washington University in St. Louis, MO; he continued his studies at Indiana University in Bloomington, and in 1958 he earned his Bachelor of Science degree. In 1958 he attended the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, IN where he became an M.D. in 1962. From 1962 until 1967 he was an intern for the Department of Medicine at the Indiana University Medical Center and Resident for the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Indiana University School of Medicine. In 1967, Dr. Copher started his successful career as a Physician, serving as the Assistant Professor for the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Indiana University Medical Center until 1970 and Clinical Professor from 1974 until 1982. From 1970 until 1989 he was in private practice at Winona and Methodist Hospitals and then Humana Women's Hospital. Dr. Copher also participated in several scientific and research studies throughout his career, including research with Dr. Sid Robinson at the Department of Physiology at Indiana University in Bloomington, with Dr. Joseph Ross and Dr. Walter Daly at Indiana University Medical Center. From 1967 until 1968 he did fetal and neonatal studies with Dr. John Lind at the Department of Pediatrics, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. Dr. Copher served as chairman for the Department of Surgery at Winona Memorial Hospital in Indianapolis and was Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Winona Medical Alliance. He was the first President of Humana Women's Hospital in Indianapolis and later served on the Board of Directors. He retired from private practice in 1989. Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Martha (Dehner) Copher; two sons, David S. Copher (Debbie) and Michael A. Copher (Melissa); two daughters, Elizabeth Browning (Jamie) and Sarah Claymon (Brent) and 12 grandchildren: David, Amy, Katie and Kristina Copher; Henry and Thomas Copher; Annie, Ellie and Will Browning; Reagan, Charlie and Kendall Claymon; one brother, Charles Copher (Roberta) of Elwood, IN and one sister-in-law, Pat Copher of Winnetka, IL. His two brothers, Phil and Jack Copher and one sister-in- law, Pat Copher, all preceded him in death. A celebration of his life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, March 31, 2008 at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 100 W. 86th Street, Indianapolis with visitation following the service until 5:00 p.m. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Leppert Mortuary, Nora Chapel, 740 E. 86th Street, Indianapolis. You are invited to visit www.leppertmortuary.com where you may sign the online register or leave a personal message. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hooverwood, 7001 Hoover Road, Indianapolis, IN 46268; St. Vincent Hospice, 8450 N. Payne Road, Indianapolis, IN 46268; St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 100 W. 86th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46260; or the IU Varsity Club, Assembly Hall, 1001 E. 17th Street, Bloomington, IN 47408.