Robert "Bob" Copenhaver

Robert (Bob) Copenhaver beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend and extraordinary outdoorsman went to meet his heavenly father on May 22, 2022.  Bob was born in San Antonio, Texas on Feb. 23, 1933 to Melvin Lee and Ida Mae Copenhaver.  He attended La Pryor High School where he played 6-man football.  He met his beautiful wife, Janet, on a blind date in Uvalde, Texas in 1952.  They were married on January 18, 1953.  In their 69 years together, they raised 5 children and attended every school and sports event the kids participated in.  They have 13 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

As a young boy, Bob was raised on a ranch; then his family moved to La Pryor to farm. He worked hard on the land, but a late freeze destroyed his crop and to help the family, he joined the Air Force, becoming a loadmaster on the C-124 Globemaster.  He was stationed at McChord Air Force Base in Tacoma, WA.  His duty in the Air Force and on the C-124 allowed him to be a part of the construction of a new Air Force base at Thule, Greenland.  Bob shared many stories over the years of things that happened on some of those long-haul flights across the Atlantic; it was a time in his life that he cherished.  Leaving the Air Force in 1954, Bob & Janet returned to the farm.  He ran a gas station on West Main Street for several years.  He continued as an entrepreneur for many more including manufacturing, ceramic tile and flooring installation.  Later, he found a home at Dynamic Refrigeration in Uvalde, where he worked for many years.  Even upon retirement, he continued to assist those special customers who had depended upon his expertise and knowledge for years.

Bob was an avid fisherman and hunter.  His love of the outdoors was a key tool in his teaching not only his kids, but also several troops of Boy Scouts, life lessons that have helped many a young man to adulthood.  He also coached Little League baseball.

Bob was a member of Baptist Temple Church for almost 70 years.  He was a deacon, taught Sunday School (both adults and kids) and oversaw the church’s food pantry that served the community.  He was active in the Del Rio-Uvalde Baptist Association supporting mission work in Mexico & South Texas.  He was part of the Baptist Men’s Disaster Relief program which sent teams to aid in clean-up efforts following many hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods in multiple states.  He was also a member of the American Legion.

Bob was truly a servant at heart.  There were many people, especially widows, who knew they could call on him at any time and he would come help them.  He was like a father to many of his children’s friends over the years and has been like a grandfather to his neighbor’s young children right up to his death.  He was a prime example of what it means to be Jesus’ hands and feet in the marketplace.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Melvin Lee and Ida Mae (Deckert) Copenhaver, brother M L Copenhaver Jr., infant son Robert Mark Copenhaver, daughter-in-law Gay (Landon) Copenhaver, and grandson Dustin Michael Fox.

He is survived by his wife: Janet (Brown) Copenhaver of Uvalde, TX; sons (& spouses) - Michael Copenhaver of Bay Minette, Alabama, Robert (& Kathy) Copenhaver of Goliad, TX, and Larry (& Susan) Copenhaver of Conway, Arkansas; daughters Jan (& Dean) Fox of Helotes, TX, and Laurie (& John) Allen of Crestview, FL; sister Carolyn Keeney of Spicewood, TX, and his pride and joy: 12 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

When we arrive in Heaven one thing you can be sure of:  Bob will meet you with a smile, offer up a hot cup of coffee warming over an open campfire, and regale you with his most recent hunting story.   He will, of course, then ask you to “tell me (him) something good” as you walk along together with Jesus’ Glory lighting the way!