Earl Wayne Coppersmith 1920-1997

COPPERSMITH, HEITMAN, BRUNS

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/16/2013 at 18:10:26

Earl Wayne Coppersmith, 76, of Palm City, Fla., formerly of Sioux City, died Saturday, Sept. 6, 1997, at the Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington, Vt. of a stroke.

Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Sioux City. Ready Funeral Home of Burlington, Vt. is in charge of the arrangements.

Mr. Coppersmith was born Nov. 29, 1920, in Sioux City, the son of Earl W. and Blanche (Heitman) Coppersmith. He attended public school in Sioux City and graduated from Central High School in 1937. He graduated from Ventura Junior College in California, George Washington University and the American Institute for Foreign Trade. He attended Loyola University Law School.

He was employed in international marketing and management with International General Electric and Booz, Allen and Hamilton in New York City, Frick Company in Waynesboro, Penn., and the International Mills Service division of I.U. International, Inc. in Philadelphia.

He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II and the Korean War as a fighter pilot. His decorations and awards include four Distinguished Flying Crosses, six Air Medals and a Presidential Letter of Commendation. He also served on the general staff for Marine Aviation in the Pentagon and was the Marine representative to the NATO Special Committee in Europe.

He was a past commander of the American Legion Post 291 in Newport Beach, Calif. and was appointed to the California American Legion Aviation Committee. He enjoyed golf and collecting and refinishing antique golf clubs.

Survivors include his wife Helen Marie (Bruns) Coppersmith; a daughter and her husband, Sally Coppersmith and John Sartore of Burlington, Vt.; and four grandchildren, Michael, David, Delmy and Jenny.

He was preceded in death by a brother, John Charles.

Memorials may be directed to the World War II Memorial Fund in Washington D.C.