Henry Joseph Cope, Sr.

Henry Joseph Cope Sr., "Hank", 91, widower of Dorothea Coppedge Cope, passed away December 16, 2016. The relatives and friends of Mr. Henry J. Cope, Sr. are invited to attend his Mass of Christian Burial 1:00 PM, Tuesday, December 20, 2016 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 5 St. Teresa Drive. The Rite of Committal will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. The family will receive friends Monday evening from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM at the James A. McAlister Funeral Home, 1620 Savannah Hwy.  Mr. Cope was a diplomat with the US State Department Agency for International Development, working as Trade and Industrial Education Advisor, and Labor Affairs and Program Development Officer, serving overseas, chiefly in Ecuador and the Philippines. He served as President of the American Federation of Government Employees, Department of State, and was an active member of the United Association of Plumbers and Steamfitters and AFGE Local 1534, holding numerous offices in both unions. He served in the Navy during World War II and the Korean War. Mr. Cope was a devout and faithful Catholic, parishioner of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church and member of the Knights of Columbus.  Hank was born on February 11, 1925 in Charleston, SC, a son of the late Arthur G. and  Mary Richbourg Cope. Hank was predeceased by his beloved wife Dorothea Coppedge Cope. He is the devoted, loving father of five children: Kathleen Condon and husband Kelly, both of whom preceded him in death, and his surviving children: Cynthia Forbes and husband Dave, Melinda Condon, Joye Gauthier, Hank Cope, Jr. and wife Denise. He is also survived by thirteen grandchildren and their families: Colleen and Nichols Condon, Erin Buda, Dorie and Chris Wallace, David and Ellen Forbes, Nicole and Evan Kirker, Colin and Nikki Forbes, Christian and Shannon Condon, Ashley Condon, Lauren Gauthier, Ryan Gauthier, Kevin Gauthier, Sarah and Chris Nicksa, Henry Joseph Cope III, and Jacob Johnston; as well as nine great-grandchildren: Cray Henry Johnson, Jackson and Kate Buda, Ryan and Reed Wallace, Gracie and Baylor Kirker, Miles Condon, and Arlen Condon.