John Frederick Coplin

   John Frederick Coplin, Jr., of Oxford, NC, died on Thursday, February 16, 2023 of complications from melanoma. He was 71.

Born in Athens, GA on July 10, 1951, he was the son of the late John Frederick and Barbara Adams Coplin. He transferred to Oxford in 1987 with his wife, Jennifer Weston Coplin and newly adopted sons Jeremy Clay and Jonathan Michael, to manage the CertainTeed roofing plant. In response to community need, the company sponsored a program in conjunction with the National Workplace Literacy Program, the U.S. Department of Labor and Vance Granville Community College in order to develop a comprehensive training program for plant employees from GED attainment to highly specialized certifications. He chaired the United Way and volunteered with the local Industry Club. A lifelong Episcopalian, he joined St. Stephens Church. As a member of the Mission and Outreach Committee, he went with the first mission trip to Central America, where over the years in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama, the team built school libraries and kitchens, and medical clinics in remote areas, cementing lifelong friendships with his teammates in the process. After retiring as plant manager, John and Jennifer created Workplace Solutions, a company specializing in industrial training, re-training and education, counting the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington DC among their clients. Seeing a strong need, they later wrote and sold educational software for GED preparation through the New Jersey-based company, Aztec Software.

    More recently, John served clients at A.C.I.M., and worked on the board of HOPE House, helping to construct and open a transitional housing facility, the first of its kind in Oxford.

     He was a voracious reader and rabid follower of the Atlanta Braves and Georgia Bulldogs, a man of faith, fiercely proud of his family, and an extraordinary creator of to-do lists. Ever the gentleman, he enjoyed training horses and dogs, riding, and meticulously maintaining his 37 acres of trails, ponds, streams, pastures, riding ring and yard on Bob Daniel Road.

    He is survived by his wife Jennifer, his sons Jeremy (Jennifer) and Jonathan (Jessica), sisters Jeannette Winn Coplin (of Oxford) and Louisa Coplin Menick (of Asheville), sister-in-law Carroll Rose Coplin (of Alpharetta, GA), grandchildren Gabriella (Brie) Coplin, Isabella (Izzy) Coplin, and John Braden Coplin, nieces Bentley Coplin Holmes, Caty Coplin, Laine Coplin and Jennifer Molloy, nephews Chris Weston, Brian Weston and David Pfau, great- nieces Maribel James Coplin, Kristina Reid, Natalie Pfau, Kaylee Pfau and Anna Weston, and great-nephews Michael Pfau, Logan Weston, Bennet Weston and Beau Grant Weston. He was predeceased by his younger brother, James Cunningham Coplin, in 2009.

     A funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 25, 2023, at 2:00 pm at St. Stephens Episcopal Church officiated by The Rev. Dr. Vincent Kopp. Visitation for family and friends will be held at 1:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall. Inurnment to follow the service in the Church columbarium.

     In lieu of flowers, please make donations in John’s honor to the St. Stephens Episcopal Church; Community Outreach Endowment; 140 College St, Oxford, NC, 27565.

The Coplin family is proudly being served by Gentry-Newell & Vaughan Funeral Home, Oxford, NC. Online Memorials: https://www.gnvfuneralhome.com/