Dorothy Pitner Copper

Dorothy Pitner Copper passed away on August 3, 2010 in Dallas, Texas at the age of 87. The eldest of five children, Dorothy was born at the Mayfield-Pitner homeplace in Rusk County to John & Christine Belew Pitner on December 18, 1922. Dorothy's greatest joy throughout her life was music in which she won many awards. She was a proficient instrumentalist playing reeds, brass, and percussion as well as strings. She began playing violin and piano at a very young age and when she began band at Rocky Mount School in Rusk County, she played baritone saxophone. She aspired to become a band director. Attending Kilgore College on a music scholarship in 1941, Dorothy also played the bassoon in the Kilgore Symphony Orchestra. She was in concert on December 7, 1941 when it was interrupted with the announcement of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Dorothy's college education and pursuit of a degree in music ended during the war years. She met her husband, Frank Copper of Mason City, Illinois, while he was on maneuvers in East Texas with the 2nd Armored Division. They married while he was stationed at Ft. Benning, Georgia and moved back to Texas after the war and resided in Lindale, Texas for many years. During this time, she never lost touch of her love for music and a desire for higher education. Although she did not attain her goal of becoming a band director, she returned to college after forty plus years receiving an Associate of Arts degree and another in Criminal Justice. Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, all of her siblings, her husband, Frank Copper, her daughter, Sherry Copper Warren, and her faithful furry friend, "Happy". She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Gene Gradick of Dallas. She is also survived by three grandchildren, Tina Homayounkhah and husband Abe of Bullard, Lisa Garrison and husband Luke of Brownsboro, and Gene Gradick, Jr. and wife Susan of Dallas. She is further survived by six great grandchildren. Visitation will be at Caudle-Rutledge Funeral Home in Lindale, Texas on Sunday, August 8, 2010 from, 3PM until 5PM. Services will be held at the funeral home on Monday, August 9, at 10:30 AM, with Chaplain Charlotte Turner officiating. Interment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery in Tyler. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Dorothy's name to Marketplace Chaplains, 2001 West Plano Parkway, Suite 3200, Plano, Texas 75075.

Dorothy Pitner Copper

December 18, 2022 - August 3, 2010