Walter H. Coppersmith

Walter H. Coppersmith, 89, of Old Hickory, Tennessee, formerly of Emporium and York, died Saturday, October, 20, 2012 in his home.

Born December 4, 1923 in Emporium he was the son of L. Neil and Ophelia Dodson Coppersmith. On June 28, 1953 in Tidioute, he married Lorraine Tilburg who survives.

He was a 1941 graduate of Emporium High School, Valley Forge MilitaryAcademy in 1943 and Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science in 1948.

He was a veteran of WWII having served in the US Army with the 511th Airborne, 11th Airborne Division during the occupation of Japan at Moriokaand coordinated paratrooper training Air Operations at Fort Benning, Georgia.

 

A resident of Emporium most of his life, he joined his father in running the Coppersmith Funeral Home until his father retired in 1958 at which time Walter assumed ownership and continued its operation until selling the business in 1982. In 1983 he moved to York and was employed by the National Directory of Morticians until retiring in 2000. In 2005 he relocated to Nashville.

 

Mr. Coppersmith was a former member of Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Emporium, Emporium Borough Council, was past president of Emporium Rotary Club, past member and Director of Emporium Community Band, life member of Cameron County Historical Society, served on the Boy Scout Area Council and as Cameron County Coroner for several terms. He was also a member of Emporium Masonic Lodge #382 F&AM, Coudersport Consistory and was a former member of Royal Arch Chapter in Coudersport and Jaffa Shrine in Altoona.

 

He is survived by: one son, Curtis J. “CJ”(Rachel) Coppersmith of Concord, Massachusetts; one daughter, Beth Ann Coppersmith of Nashville, Tennessee; three grandchildren, Nathan Coppersmith of Oakland, California and Daniel Coppersmith of Concord; one granddaughter, Lauren Coppersmith of Nashville; two brothers, James (Beverly) Coppersmith and George (Wilda) Coppersmith both of Emporium; one sister, Grace (Robert) Peters of Huntingdon; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Coppersmith is predeceased by four brothers, Frank, Robert, L. Neil and J. LeRoy Coppersmith and one sister, Teresa Carpenter.

 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, November 3, at 10:30 a.m. in Emmanuel Episcopal Church with the Rev. Matt Ryan, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Newton Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at a reception in the church hall following the service.

 

Military honors will be accorded by the Cameron County Memorial Detail.

Memorials, if desired, may be made to the American Heart Association, the National Kidney Foundation, or Emmanuel Episcopal Church.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Coppersmith-Condon Funeral Home