Scipio
Arvina L. Copeland, 69, of Scipio, died at 1:15 p.m. Sunday, August 23, 2015, at her home, after battling a long illness. She was a member of The Kingdom Hall in North Vernon and was involved in door-to-door ministry. She was a graduate of Clearspring High School.
Mrs. Copeland was born December 10, 1945, in Indianapolis, to the late Lester Frank Bowling and Eula Jane Root Bowling. She was married to Larry Copeland and he is deceased. She had lived in Jennings County since 1986.
Survivors include three daughters, Odetta Wheeler of Scipio, Amber Jo Wheeler of South Bend, and Patricia Wheeler of Wayne, New Jersey; five stepchildren, Curt Copeland, Deborah Cooley, James Copeland, Ed Copeland, and Larry Dean Copeland; eight grandchildren, John Wayne Rieken, April Rieken, Jessica McVey, Daniel Baker, Joshua Wheeler, Casey Poppy, Gage Wheeler, and Kylee Wheeler; eight great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Clyde Root of Ohio and Bill Bowling of Butlerville.
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She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, two brothers, one sister, one grandson, and one great-grandson.
Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today, August 25, at Johnson Funeral Home, Vallonia. A memorial service will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday, August 30, at The Kingdom Hall in North Vernon, with Ron Haislup officiating. Burial will be at Vallonia Cemetery at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, Arvina wished that donations be made to Mercy Rescue & Adoption Inc., P.O. Box 537, North Vernon, IN 47265.
Arvina was always a woman on the go. She was known to her family and friends as a hard worker and always had a project going. It was a rare day when she wasn’t doing some carpentry work, puttering around on mechanical repairs, working on a bit of remodeling, or planting something. She had an innate love of anything exciting and was always willing to try new things, even when some might have thought she was “too old”! Some of her many experiences were Class 4 whitewater rafting, snorkeling with stingrays, bareback mule riding, traveling, and her lifelong dream of walking part of the Appalachian Trail.
Arvina had an unshakable belief in God and during her lifetime she shared her love of God and the Bible to others through home Bible studies and later through ministry work at the women’s prison in Madison. In her later years she developed a passion for animal rescue and was an avid supporter of the humane treatment of animals. Many animals were given a second chance at a happy, healthful life due to the generosity of Arvina and her late husband, Larry Copeland.
Online condolences may be made to the Copeland family at Johnsonfh.net.
