William Theodore Cope

Stanley,

WILLLIAM THEODORE “BILL” COPE, 84, died October 5, 2018 at his residence.

He was born September 28, 1934 in the Spencer Mountain Community of Gaston County, son of the late Charles Howard and Gladys Jones Cope. He was raised in Stanley and graduated from Stanley High School, Class of 1952, where he was class president, and Belmont Abbey College in 1956 with an AB degree in Business Administration and minor in Ancient and Medieval History. He joined the Marine Corps in 1956 and served for four years. He worked as an accountant with Carolina Freight Carriers in Cherryville; six years as Controller for Central Motor Lines in Charlotte, two years as accountant with Gaston County Dye Machine Co. in Stanley, and was owner and president of Charles H. Cope and Company Textile Repair Company in Stanley. After retirement, he worked for the Gaston County Sheriff’s Department in Gastonia. He married Doris Irene Shook, daughter of Paul and Edna Shook on June 20, 1958 at Christ’s Lutheran Church in Stanley.  He was a member of Christ’s Lutheran Church, where he served as Sunday School teacher of High School students for thirty five years, Boy Scout Scoutmaster of Troop 311 for 25 years, where he served as an American Red Cross instructor in First Aid and CPR, and in those years had 19 scouts attain the rank of Eagle Scout. He also served as President and member of the Church Council, served in the church choir, lay assistant, superintendent of Sunday School, Chairman of the Christian Education Committee, and was a member of Christ’s Lutheran Men’s Organization and Building Committee. In the community, he served on the Stanley Zoning Board, was an active member in the Stanley Masonic Lodge #713, serving as Master in 1966 and secretary for 38 years. He was District Deputy Grand Lecturer for seven years, District Deputy Grand Master for three years, Venerable Master of Scottish Rite Bodies of Charlotte, Lecturer for the Scottish Rite Bodies for 12 years, recipient of the Joseph P. Montford Award (only three of these awards are given per year by the State Masonic Lodge for outstanding Masonic work. He was a 33rdDegree Mason and Sovereign Grand Commander for the 33rdDegree Coronation in 1997.Survivors include his wife of 60 years Doris Shook Cope, son and daughter in law William Gregory (Greg) Cope, PHD, NCSU and Jaimie Haskin Cope of Apex, NC, son Dr. Brian Scott Cope, MD Urology of Graham, NC; grandchildren William Robert Cope and Sarah Jean Cope of Apex, sister in law Mrs. Don Paul Shook of Martinsville, Va, and niece Karen Leigh Shook of Roanoke, Va.; sister Mrs. James V. Rhyne (Doris Cope Rhyne) of Stanley, sister Betty Joyce Reid and husband Ted G. Reid of Stanley, sister Jewel L. Carrouthers and husband Wilson Carrouthers of Winston-Salem, NC, and  nieces and nephews.

The funeral service will be held 3:00 p.m. Monday October 8, 2018 at Christ’s Lutheran Church in Stanley with Pastor Wesley Frye officiating. The family will receive friends at the church from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Monday. Interment with Masonic rites and Military honors will follow in Hillcrest Gardens Cemetery.

Honorary Pallbearers will be members of Stanley Masonic Lodge #713. Memorials may be made to Christ’s Lutheran Church, 203 South Main St., Stanley NC 28164.

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