Leon Copsey

After a very fulfilling and wonderful life, Leon Copsey, 82 years young, joined his departed loved ones in Heaven on Thursday, April 10, 2014.

Leon was born on Nov. 26, 1931, a son of the late Mildred Copsey Cooper. He grew up and attended school in Xenia, Ohio. Leon proudly served in the United States Army for two years. He was stationed in Kentucky, Maryland, Kansas and Alaska where he received an award for cross-country skiing over 100 miles.

After serving in the Army and a three-year courtship, he married his sweetheart, Mary Elizabeth Green on Aug. 11, 1956. Their strong love and positive beliefs created a tight family unit for their seven children, Teresa (Les) Conover, Dave (Jonda) Copsey, Lisa Bentley, Debbie (Les) Roe, Lori Thornhill, Jeff (Kevi) Copsey, and Chris (Lori) Copsey … all of whom were raised in the same home the family built together in 1972.

Leon worked for the Wilmington and Bowersville Post Offices for more than 30 years. He was known as the friendly, personable and very talkative Bowersville Postmaster. He never missed a day of work in 20 years while at the Bowersville Post Office. His children have priceless memories of going to work with Dad to spend time during Dad's lunch hour with fishing poles.

His love of fishing took him and his family on countless trips to Lake Erie and Canada, where he taught his children that the best fish were caught at the crack of dawn. A man who taught by example, his fishing traditions along with his positive attitudes have been passed on to his children, 14 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

After his wife's death in 1989, Leon was fortunate enough to fall in love again, marrying Polly Williamson of the Lewis Family Bluegrass Band in Lincolnton, Ga. Leon loved his "job" as a roadie during the years her band traveled all over the United States.

Leon was a member of the St. Columbkille Catholic Church in Wilmington, Ohio.

In addition to his first wife and mother, two grandchildren, are preceded in death.

There are few "gentlemen" in this world today, but if you knew Leon, he was one of them. For those of us lucky enough to have had him in our lives, we learned patience, love, understanding, compassion for nature, and most importantly, being true to yourself. This quote by an unknown author sums up Leon best, "You know you lived a meaningful life when you can't count the people who are better for having known you." He will be greatly missed by all.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 16 at the St. Columbkille Catholic Church, 73 N. Mulberry St. in Wilmington, with the Rev. Michael J. Holloran officiating. The burial will be in the Sugar Grove Cemetery in Wilmington.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 15 at the Reynolds-Smith Funeral Home, 327 N. South St. in Wilmington.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the St. Columbkille Catholic Church, 73 N. Mulberry St., Wilmington, OH 45177 or to Community Care Hospice, P.O. Box 123, Wilmington, OH 45177.

For more information or to sign an online registry of condolences, please visit www.smithandsonfuneralhomes.com.