Southern Gospel News SGNScoops Digital

Josh Copenhaver: Gospel Singer Gone Too Soon

I first met young Josh Copenhaver online when I did a story regarding single people in Southern Gospel. His brother Jimmy joked that Josh was ‘Gospel music’s most eligible bachelor.’ Shortly thereafter, I met Josh at the National Quartet Convention. He was sweet and funny, engaging and optimistic. He had met a girl recently and was really excited about where it might lead. Later, I wrote about Rachel and Josh’s love story in a Valentine’s article. I was friends with Josh on Facebook and occasionally saw a post or comment, talking about life and Southern Gospel music. He sang with his family, The Copenhavers.

I was shocked and saddened therefore to see a post before Easter. It said that Joshua Copenhaver had passed away at only 26 years of age.

SGN Scoops and SGM Radio sends their condolences and prayers to the family of Josh. With the consent of his mother Karen, we are reprinting his obituary as follows:

Joshua Copenhaver, 26, of Warren OH, formerly of Rittman, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, March 28, 2015 at Trumbull Memorial Hospital in Warren.

He was born December 29, 1988, in Wooster, to Donnie R. and Karen (Jackson) Copenhaver.

Josh grew up in Creston, and graduated from Norwayne High School in the class of 2007. On May 18, 2013, he married Rachel (Romine) Copenhaver in Newton Falls, and made their home in Warren for the past 2 years. While there, he had been attending the General Assembly Church of God. Josh absolutely loved Southern Gospel music, enjoyed singing and recording albums in his home studio, all sports, especially football, baseball, and Nascar, and spending time with his family, especially his nephew Hutson. Josh was a positive, kind hearted, joyful man and was friends with everyone he met.

He is survived by his wife Rachel of Warren; parents Donnie and Karen Copenhaver of Wooster; brother Jim (Angela) Copenhaver of Wooster; nephew Hutson Copenhaver of Wooster; father and mother in law Lyle (Jennifer) Romine of Warren; aunts and uncles Bill (Betty) Copenhaver of Rittman, Linda Sineath of Virginia, Cathy (Dan) Hearn of Elyria; the Romine and Meadors families; and many other cousins, friends, and loved ones.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents Rev. Neil S. and Della Jackson; and paternal grandparents Denzil and Hazel Copenhaver.

Funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, April 3, 2015 at Auble-Gillman Funeral Home, 360 W. Sunset Dr., Rittman, with Pastor Mitchel Meadors officiating. Interment Rittman Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 4-8 PM on Thursday, April 2, at the funeral home, and from 10-11 AM on Friday before services.

Memorial contributions may be made to Ron Moore of the Ohio Parkinsons Foundation, 127 S. Raccoon Rd., Austintown, OH, 44515.

For online register book, obituary, condolences, please visit www.gillmanfuneralhome.com.

Readers, we ask that you remember this family in your prayers.

You can reach the following Copenhaver family members on Facebook:

Karen Copenhaver

Jimmy Copenhaver

Rachel Copenhaver