- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ IMPRESSIVE FUNERAL RITES IN HONOR OF LATE BURGESS HUNDREDS PAY RESPECT AT CHURCH AND CEMETERY F. Lawson Teets, Former California Pastor, Eulogizes Character and Accomplishments In Sermon Masonic Rites Held At Cemetery The entire comminity suffered a shock last Sunday evening at the news that Burgess Eldridge Mansfield Copenhaver had been ovetaken by sudden death. Telephone wires were busy until far into the night as residence of California and vicinity made inquiries in the hope that the sad news might turn out to be an unfounded rumor. It was difficult for people to convince themselves that their esteemed fellow townsman who had been seen on the streets in what was apparently his usual state of health could have passed away. As Burgess Copenhaver died before a physician could be summoned it is impossible to say what the exact cause of his death. He had complained some during the last two or three weeks about not feeling very well but had been at work every day and been seen about town in the evenings. On Sunday he went to Pittsburgh to see his brother, Hubert, who had been a patient in South Side Hospital for some time. While he has been stated he was not feeling well, those who made the trip with him said that he seemed to be in an unusally good humor. He laughed and joked with his brother and the other members of the party and seemed to be his usual self. Arriving in California on Sunday evening he complained ---- have been indigestion and -- down on the couch at his home. According to his mother, Grace M. CARSON-COPENHAVER, who was the only person with him at the time he gave one gasp and passed away. Mr. Copenhaver was born April 30, 1887 and dies Sunday, January 18, 1931. That made his age at the time of death 43 years, - months, and -- days. Early in life he was married to Pearl Kiesling ------death, dying three yeas ago last December. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Copenhaver; Harold Ray, Edna Mae, and Paul, and these three survive their father. The son Harold is the eldest and is a student in the California High School. His brother and sister are both younger than he and are grade school pupils. The sympathy of the entire town goes out to the children who were bereft of both parents. Their aged grandmother remains with them. The deceased was in the midst of his second term as Burgess of the Borough of California. He had served his community faithfully and well dealing with intricately difficult problems as he presided with strict justice and fairness during a hard fought coal strike and coped with the ever present problem of law enforcement. It can truthfully be said of him that the best interests of his community were contunually uppermost in his mind. He was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and had been made a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. He was also a member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. He was also a devout churchman belonging to the First Methodist Episcopal Church. of California where he rendered faithful and efficient service as a member of the Official Board. Funeral services sere held in the First Methodist Episcopal Church on Wednesday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock. The Reverand Harry Allan Price was in charge of the service and the music was furnished by the church choir under the direction of Prof. E.E. Halstead. The sermon was preached by the Reverand F. Lawson Teets, a former California Methodist pastor and a close friend of the Copenhaver family. He delivered an eloquent and masterly funeral address which will not be forgotten by those who heard it. He alluded to the distinguished character of the service which the decesed had always rendered to his church and to his community. The funeral was one of the largest ever held in California, the church being crowded to overflowing. There was a Masonic buriel service at the grave following the ritual of the church. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------