Wendell "Scotty" Winthrop Copeland

Wendell “Scotty” Winthrop Copeland, 90, of Plainville, CT passed away peacefully on February 8, 2022. Wendell was born on September 6, 1931. He was raised in Canton, CT by his beloved grandparents Gertrude and Winthrop Dunbar.  The son of Elizabeth Dunbar Clayton and Wendell Copeland Sr., he loved to share stories of his life in the country, riding in his donkey cart pulled by Chiquita, or on his horse Pal, and fishing in the local pond.  Wendell joined the Army in 1948 and was stationed in Garmisch, Germany where he worked as company photographer. Upon his return to Connecticut, he began work at Wallace Barnes in Bristol, where he met his wife Louise. They married in 1953 and started a family. He then worked for Pratt and Whitney for 38 years before enjoying a retirement playing golf, gardening, traveling, drawing, spending time with his grandkids and riding his bicycle around town.

Wendell was predeceased by his wife of 57 years, Louise (Urso) Copeland, his sister Betty Claire Copeland, his brother, Earl E. “Chubby” Clayton Jr, his son-in-law John Rypysc, and several nieces and nephews.

He is survived by his beloved partner Sally Miller of Plainville, his daughter Brenda Copeland-Rypysc of Bristol, daughter Noreen (Copeland) Wolf and husband Steven of Bristol, son James Copeland and wife Karin (Albert) of Burlington; grandchildren Christopher Wolf and wife Crystal, Christina (Wolf) Carlson and husband Jeremy, Taylor Copeland, Garrett Copeland;  great-grandchildren Alexis, Jenna, Brooke and Lilah; sister Bonnie (Clayton) Adler and husband Dennis of Roseville, MI and several nieces and nephews. Wendell was also a proud foster dad to Tara Thompson.

Wendell was well known in the Plainville community and was an active and engaging member of the Plainville senior center, often entertaining family and friends with his guitar playing and singing. He acted as Historian for Chapter 4146 of AARP, was a member of Altrusa Poetry group of Berlin and is listed in the Who’s Who for American Poetry. He was a contributing musician in the both the Bristol and Plainville Ukulele groups; and member of the “snappy seniors” photography group.    

An award winning photographer and illustrator, Wendell’s work was featured in numerous gallery & talent shows and after he retired, he became the resident illustrator for the Plainville Hometown Connection newspaper. His monthly cartoon strip “Pooch” demonstrated both his illustration talent and keen sense of humor. Wendell has designed holiday cards and has a Christmas Stamp at the Bethlehem CT Post Office that you can still use to stamp your Holiday cards with. 

Wendell will be honored at a graveside service with Military Honors on Wednesday February 16, 2022 at 9:00 AM at St. Joseph Cemetery at 522 Terryville Avenue, Bristol.  A repast will follow at Pequabuck Golf Course at 56 School St, Terryville. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Plainville Food Pantry. 

The staff at Plainville Funeral Home extends their gratitude to the Copeland family for their trust.  For online expressions of sympathy, please visit www.PlainvilleFuneralHome.com

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