Ralph Nelson Copeland

Ralph Nelson Copeland, born April 21, 1953, in Grapevine, Texas, passed away on July 22, 2026, at the age of 73.

Ralph was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. He and his wife, Melanie Copeland, shared 53 years of marriage and a life built together. He was the father of son Chris Copeland with his wife, Brandy, and daughter Amber Jackson, and grandfather (Grumpy) to Rory Jackson, Jakob Griego, and Michael Griego.

A man of few words, Ralph was steady, dependable, and never afraid of hard work. He could certainly be stubborn, but that determination was also part of what made him someone his family could always count on. Ralph wasn’t one to make a big production out of things. If he cared about you, you knew it because he showed up. He was the kind of person who would give someone the shirt off his back, and the people he loved never had to wonder whether he would be there when they needed him.

Ralph served in the United States Army from 1973 to 1976, attaining the rank of Specialist 5 serving as a Vietnam-era veteran. After his military service, he dedicated nearly 50 years to his career as a jig and fixture builder, including the last 32 years at Bell Helicopter. He had an incredible work ethic and took pride in his craft, building a life around work he genuinely enjoyed.

When he wasn’t working, Ralph enjoyed the simple things that made him happy. He loved classic rock, was an avid reader, and rarely missed an opportunity to follow college basketball. He was a loyal Duke basketball fan, a devotion that sparked more than a few good-natured debates within the family over the years.

Ralph’s family would like to extend a special thank-you to his tooling family at Bell Helicopter for the incredible help, care, and support they have provided over the past several years. The family is also deeply grateful to their neighbors for the love, kindness, and support they have shown.

A memorial service will be held August 3rd at 1:00 p.m., with a reception to follow from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. at Wade Funeral Home in Arlington, Texas.