FRANKLIN
Donna Lou (Rypma) Copeland, 81, of Franklin, passed away peacefully Thursday, April 16, 2015, at her home in Clark Township after a long illness.
She was born March 12, 1934, in Indianapolis to William and Edith (Moore) Rypma.
She married Donald B. Copeland, her handsome soldier, on June 20, 1953, at Rocklane Christian Church in Greenwood; he survives.
She was a 1952 graduate of Clark High School and attended Indiana Business College.
Survivors also include her three children, Donald B. Copeland Jr. (Debra Louise) of Cisco, Illinois, and Leslie Willis (David) and Melissa Suttles (Randal), both of Clark Township; six grandchildren, Richel Dillard (Tommy) and Amy Locke (Dave), both of Greenwood, Leslie Beeson (Kent) of Whiteland, Joseph Suttles (Shellye) of Washington, D.C., and Donna Miller (Rob) and William Suttles (Stacey), both of Clark Township; and her 11 great-grandchildren, Megan Miller, Ethan Locke, Reese Dillard, Kaden Beeson, Isaac Locke, Zoe Dillard, Keelan Beeson, Declan Locke, Drake Miller, Draven Miller and Kelton Beeson.
Donna was a homemaker and farmed alongside her husband in Clark Township.
They wintered in North Fort Myers, Florida, for about 30 years.
She was an active member of Rocklane Christian Church in Greenwood since her childhood. She also was a member of the Johnson County Extension Homemakers for many years and the Jolly Twelve Euchre Club.
She also was a member of E S A sorority.
She was accomplished at crocheting, and countless young mothers have wrapped their babies in her crocheted afghans.
Over the years she also enjoyed singing in the church choir, fishing, baking cookies, collecting bulldog figurines and toys, and playing with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Donna’s quick smile and quick wit will be greatly missed as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, sister-in-law and friend.
The Revs. Ron Rockey and Robert Keaton will conduct a service of celebration at 11 a.m. Monday at Rocklane Christian Church, 4430 Rocklane Road, Greenwood. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Swartz Family Community Mortuary and Memorial Center, 300 S. Morton St. (U.S. 31 South) in Franklin and from 10 a.m. until service time Monday at the church. Burial will be at Rocklane Cemetery in Greenwood.
In lieu of flowers, the family request memorial contributions be made to Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, 14 Pennsylvania Plaza, Suite 1710, New York, New York 10122, or at ocrf.org; or to the Rocklane Christian Church, 4430 Rocklane Road, Greenwood, IN 46143.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at swartzmortuary.com.
Information: 738-0202
