Zelphia Copeland

Zelphia Earline Copeland, 79. of Versailles passed away at 10:15 p.m., Thursday, January 25, 2023 at the Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. She was born at Oneida in Clay County, Kentucky on December 27, 1944, the daughter of Nevel and Edna Sawyers Pennington. She was married to Kenneth Copeland on August 23, 1963 and he preceded her in death on March 10, 2020. 

Survivors include three daughters Sandy Copeland of St. Paul, Carla (Steve) Miller of Osgood, and Darla Copeland of Versailles; one son Kenneth “Sam” (Amy) Copeland of Versailles; 12 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; two brothers Ruick (Gwen) Pennington of Elrod and Tony (Sherri) Pennington of Milan; six sisters Joyce (Jerry) Vogel and Teri Cutter (Terry Stutler) both of Versailles, Cheryl (Dana) Hooton, Judy Wright, and Shelly (Darrell) Smith all of Madison, and Pat (Jeff) Owens of Milan. She was also preceded in death by her parents and her sister Katherine Jordan. 
Mrs. Copeland was a 1962 graduate of Milan High School and was a former employee of the Versailles and Dillsboro IGA stores. She and Kenny operated a grocery store in Cross Plains and she also assisted Kenny in the operation of Copeland Excavating in Versailles. Earline was active in Republican politics serving as Ripley County Treasurer for two terms and also was Ripley County Clerk for one year. She had also served as Deputy Recorder, Deputy Clerk, and served as bailiff for the Ripley Superior Court. She enjoyed quilting, crocheting, reading, and winning at euchre. Earline was a member of the Benham United Methodist Church and was a member and past president of the Ripley County Republican Women’s Club. 

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, January 30 at 11 a.m. at the Stratton-Karsteter Funeral Home in Versailles. Burial will be in the Methodist Cemetery at Cross Plains. Visitation will be on Monday from 4 p.m. to 7p.m. Memorials may be given to the cemetery in care of the funeral home.