Erle Wendell Coppedge, 86, of Clarksville, TN, a loving husband, father, and grandfather went to be with the lord on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 at Gateway Medical Center. He was born on December 19, 1925 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee to the late Erle Coppedge and Eunice Tippitt Coppedge. He was also preceded in death by his wife of over 53 years, Rosalie Wooten Coppedge and a sister, Dora Coppedge Huffman.
Funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 17, 2012 at 11 AM at Madison Street United Methodist Church with Rev. Cliff Wright officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday, March 16, 2012 from 4-7 PM with a rosary service to follow at Neal-Tarpley-Parchman Funeral Home and Saturday, March 17, 2012 from 10 AM until the hour of service at the church.
Erle grew up in Stewart County, TN. He received his law degree from Vanderbilt University. He was a member of PHI DELTA PHI International legal fraternity. He was a WWII veteran of the 398th Regiment of the 100th Infantry Division where he was awarded the Bronze Star. He was Vice President of Business Affairs at APSU and also a retired CPA. He was a member of Madison Street United Methodist Church.
He is survived by a son, Thomas Patrick Monaghan (Mary Louise) of New Hope, KY; two daughters, Hallie Coppedge Hogan (Charles) of Burlington, NC and Rosanna Coppedge of Clarksville, TN; a sister, Rebekah Coppedge of Lynchburg, VA; eleven grandchildren, John Monaghan (Mariela), Joseph Monaghan, Rosalie Surtees (Geoffrey), Maureen Monaghan, Michael Monaghan (Kathleen), Brendan Monaghan, Kathleen Monaghan, Margaret Schay (Michael), Terence Monaghan, Mary Monaghan, and Tess Hogan; and fourteen great grandchildren.
Family will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearer will be John Herman Smith.
A special thank you to Dr. Thomas S. Johnston and Dr. Christopher Jones and all the staff and doctors at Centennial Heart in Nashville for their wonderful care and kindness. We also thank Gateway Hospital and Montgomery Care and Rehab for their thoughtfulness and care and kindness as well.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Clarksville Humane Society, Madison Street United Methodist Church, Vanderbilt Football Program, American Heart Association in the name of Centennial Heart, APSU Fund, or the Nashville Rescue Mission. Arrangements entrusted to Neal-Tarpley-Parchman Funeral Home, 1510 Madison Street, Clarksville, TN 37040. On-line condolences may be made at www.neal-tarpley.com.