Copeland, George H.

Description

George H. Copeland

George H. Copeland was born in Rye on June 18, 1920, the son of John and Adele Liggins Copeland. He had two brother John and Robert and in Rye his family lived at 31 Florence Avenue. George was a graduate of Harrison High School.

George enlisted in 1942 and served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

He served four years in the forces, two of them overseas with the 366th Infantry Regiment attached to the 92nd Infantry Division. The 366th Infantry Regiment was an all Colored (segregated) unit of the United States Army that served in both World War I and World War II.

In the latter war, the unit was exceptional for having all black officers as well as troops. The U.S. military did not desegregate until after World War II.

After the war, George married Eugenia Andrade and they would have three daughters. He worked for 27 years as a machinist at Russell, Burdsall and Ward Bolt & Nut Works, formerly of Port Chester.

He later worked at Empire Brush in Port Chester for four years and then went to the Mamaroneck plant, where he worked for five years.

George was a parishioner of St. Frances A.M.E. Zion Church in Port Chester. In his spare time, he enjoyed fishing in Long Island Sound and off the coast of Massachusetts.

George H. Copeland, a lifelong Rye resident who worked for the county waste water treatment plant in Mamaroneck, died Sunday April 1, 1983 at United Hospital in Port Chester after a long illness.

At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife, Eugenia of the home address; three daughters, Jacquelyn and Leslie Copeland of Rye and Mrs. Eduardo (Patricia) Torrez of Madrid, Spain; and three grandchildren.