Virgina Yvonne Coppinger Sims

Virginia Yvonne Eppler Coppinger-Sims

April 12, 1940 - August 21, 2025

Virginia Yvonne Eppler Coppinger-Sims was born in Santa Anna, Texas on April 12, 1940 to Alvie Doyle “A. D.” Eppler and Georgia Velma Leach Eppler, and grew up on a farm in Coleman County, the oldest of four children, with her siblings, Glendon, Georgia, and Dwight Eppler. She attended Mozelle High School where she graduated in 1958. There, she played the snare drum and was a member of the girls basketball team. After graduation, she attended what is now Abilene Christian University, Abilene Christian College at the time, where she met her future husband.

On March 19,1959, she married A. G. Coppinger, with whom she had four children: Mike, Kirk, Vikki, and Scott Coppinger. As the wife of a railroad employee, she lived in many Texas towns and cities early on, such as Stanton, Big Spring, Abilene and eventually settled in Arlington, where she lived for over 55 years. She was also a longtime member of the Woodland West Church of Christ in Arlington, Texas.

In the early 1970’s, she started a career at Sargent Sowell Inc. (Sa-So), in Grand Prairie, Texas, where she gained a vast knowledge of the catalog of merchandise and excelled, working her way to sales manager. She made many lifelong friends at both church and work, with whom she spoke to throughout her life. She was an energetic soul, and enjoyed plants and gardening, playing dominoes, and doing puzzles. She was a fantastic cook, and made many distinct dishes and things like homemade bread and homemade ice cream for her children and friends. She had the most amazing singing voice.

Later, she met the love of her life, Arlie Lee Sims, whom she married on Valentines Day 1997. She and Arlie had many travels and adventures together until his sudden passing in 2001. After his passing, while caring for her mother in Coleman, Texas, she ran into an old high school friend, Joe Langenhennig, at the grocery store. Together, they built a lovely home in Coleman, where she maintained homes in both Coleman and Arlington.

She was the loving, hard-working, mother of four children to Mike, Kirk, Vikki, and Scott Coppinger. She was also referred to as Mee-Maw to her many grandchildren and great grandchildren. She truly appreciated the assistance and care she received in recent years from grandsons Dustin Dupree and Colby Coppinger, who helped her many times by taking her to doctors appointments and her favorite restaurants, and spending time with her at home and various places she enjoyed.

She is survived by her son, Alan Michael Coppinger of Arlington, TX; son, Steven Kirk Coppinger and his wife Shelly Coppinger of Fairview, TX; daughter, Vikki Yvonne Coppinger Dupree of Bridgeport, TX; and son Gaylon Scott Coppinger and his wife Tina Coppinger of Fort Worth, TX. Brother, Glendon Eppler and his wife Gaynell Eppler of New Braunfels, TX; sister, Georgia Kunz of Sherman, TX; brother; Dwight Eppler and his wife Debbie Eppler of Plant City, FL. Also, her many grandchildren: Amanda (Mandy) Coppinger, Ryan Kelly, Chelsea Kelly, Sierra Kelly, Dustin Dupree, Whitney Dupree Marks and her husband Dillon Marks of Bridgeport, TX; Colby Coppinger of The Colony, TX; Alyssa Coppinger in College Station (Texas A&M University). She also leaves many beloved great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her father, Alvie Doyle “A. D.” Eppler, and mother Georgia Velma Leach Eppler; husband, A. G. “Al” Coppinger; husband, Arlie Lee Sims; lifelong friend, Joe Langenhennig.