A Former Publication Of Alderson High School
“Alderson’s Longest Running News Media”
Ross Copenhaver - Obituary
November 8, 1946 - February 16, 2023
Ross
Copenhaver,
76,
of
Alderson,
West
Virginia
passed
away
on
February
16,
2023,
at
home.
He
was
the
son
of
the
late
Mollie
Gale
Copenhaver
and
“Mr.
Fuller.”
Ross
was
born
on
November
8,
1946,
in
the
Raiders
Valley
of
Williamsburg,
West
Virginia.
Very
few
people
except
his
family
knew
Roy
was
his
real
name.
Ross
was
a
nickname
to
him
like
nicknames
he
gave
everyone
else.
He
drove
around
a
man
named
Ross
all
the
time
“when
he
had
a
little
too much to drink.” So, Ross, underage drove him home, a lot.
Ross
was
raised
during
hard
times
by
“grandma”,
Lota
Copenhaver.
He
went
to
work
“so
they
didn’t
starve”
and
quit
school
in
the
eighth
grade.
During
his
life,
he
had
a
several
nicknames
based
on
different
things.
His
uncle
Llyod
used
to
call
him
“Rock”
because
he
worked
for
Rocco
Feeds.
He
worked
for
Pepsi
Cola
Bottling
Company
of
Alderson
for
seventeen
years,
so
many
people knew him by “Pepsi.”
He
was
a
founding
member
of
Tri-County
Volunteer
Fire
Company.
He
served
as
Chief
of
the
department
many
years
until
he
opened
his
store.
They
were
renegades
because
their
firetrucks
were
yellow
and
Snoopy
was
their
mascot.
Tri-County
was
formed
as
a
split
over
the
decision
to
purchase
a
new
pumper
instead
of
a
tanker
in
1974-1975.
Hence
why
Tri-County
has
the
tankers
and
Alderson
has
only
ever
had
pumpers.
He
was
a
member
of
Alderson
Volunteer
Fire
Department
before
splitting
to
Tri-County.
He
later
went back to Alderson and was a driver for Travis and others.
While
he
was
not
proud
of
not
completing
high
school,
he
was
proud
of
his
accomplishments
and
his
hometown.
In
fact,
he
was
“Alderson
Proud!”
In
the
early
1980’s
he
revitalized
the
Alderson
Business
District
by
refurbishing
the
old
Exxon
station
and
opening
Ross’s
Express
Mart.
Soon
after,
he
added
a
deli
and
car
wash
to
the
convenience
store.
Next,
to
fit
the
needs
of
visitors
to
the
prison,
he
opened
the
first
ten
units
of
Riverview
Motel.
Later
adding
another
five
units
to
the
motel
and
Waterfront
Sporting
Goods
Store. After selling the motel and sporting goods store, he and Travis opened R&T Feed and Supply.
Although
Sam
Bennett
put
the
“Alderson
Proud!”
words
on
his
laundromat
and
barber
shop,
he
and
Ross
were
neck
and
neck
to
get
the
signs
up.
Ross
was
so
proud
of
Alderson
he
used
“Alderson
Proud”
on
almost
all
of
his
advertisements
and
buildings.
Over
the
past
few
years
his
health
has
declined,
and
he
enjoyed sitting and talking with his friends at the store. He was a friend and mentor to many over his years.
Ross
retired
for
six
months.
During
that
time,
he
moved
back
to
the
farm
he
loved,
built
a
garage,
and
deck.
Then
he
went
back
to
work.
He
worked
at
True
Value
and
then
retired
again
from
the
hangout
for
the
old
folks
–
the
feed
store.
Over
the
past
few
years,
he
has
been
a
sworn
member
of
the
"Alderson
Park
Rangers."
Anyone
close
knows
that
he
reaffirmed
his
faith
in
the
Lord
and
was
a
founding
member
of
Cross
River
Country
Church.
His
church
family
was
so
important
to
him.
Especially
the
“Hoke
boys.”
Over
the
past
couple
of
years
Ross
has
started
enjoying
hunting
more
with
Brayden.
Peyton
was
his
go
getter
and
shopper. Bailey enjoyed his nightly calls starting out “hey Roy!”
Ross
was
preceded
in
death
by
his
parents,
grandparents,
brother
James
Armentrout,
and
sister
Linda
Armentrout Haynes, his favorite Blue Heeler, Biscuit, and his beloved Percheron, John Boy.
Travis,
Elizabeth,
Brayden,
Peyton,
Bailey,
Ally,
Alilah,
and
Brenda
will
have
a
huge
hole
in
their
hearts
as
they
move
forward.
His
Brother
Ray
and
Sister
Pattie
will
as
well.
The
community
will
forever
remember
their friend and buddy.
Visitation
will
be
Wednesday,
February
22,
2023
from
6:00-8:00
at
Cross
River
Country
Church,
511
Nash
Lane
(on
the
way
to
“the
Red
Barn”)
on
Route
3,
Alderson,
West
Virginia.
His
funeral
will
be
Thursday,
February 23, 2023, at 11:00 at the church.
In lieu of flowers the following groups would have been approved by him for contributions:
Alderson Main Street – Hanging Basket Flower Fund – PO Box 117, Alderson, West Virginia 24910.
Cross River Country Church – 511 Nash Lane, Alderson, WV 24910
National Barrel Horse Association WV-04 – 816 Highland Park Road, Second Creek, West Virginia 24974.
Ross’s
friends
and
family
at
Lantz
Funeral
Home
will
be
taking
care
of
all
the
arrangements.
The
first
obituary
Travis
wrote
after
he
started
mortuary
school
Ross
was
not
pleased
with.
I
am
hopeful
that
this
one would meet his approval.
To
send flowers
to the family or
plant a tree
in memory of Ross, please visit our
floral store.