Barbara Ann Coppock

Barbara Ann Coppock

Cedar Rapids

Barbara Ann Coppock, 83, of Cedar Rapids, passed away peacefully on Oct. 1, 2023, at Cottage Grove Place.

Memorial services will be held at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery in the Chapel of Memories on Dec. 14, 2023, at 3 p.m.

Her memory is carried on by her children Anne Stamats (Bill) of Cedar Rapids, Geo Purdie (Heather) of Seattle, Wash., and her grandchildren Ben Stamats (Anjali), Haley Stamats and Louella Purdie.

Also surviving are her stepson David Coppock (Sunshine) of Scottsdale, Ariz., their children, Conall and Brook; stepson Peter Coppock (Paul Newton) of Phoenix, Ariz.; sister-in-law Betsy Sanger (Greg) of Chico, Calif.; brother-in-law Dave Mason of Dunn, N.C.

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, Viola and Jesse Barnhart, her sister Betty Clapp (Edward), her husband William Coppock and her sister-in-law Sue Mason.

Born in Sidney, Neb., Dec. 20, 1939, Barbara spent most of her adult life in Cedar Rapids. She graduated from Roosevelt High School in Des Moines and attended Drake University for two years where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She then transferred to the University of Iowa and was enrolled in the dental hygiene program. She married Dr. John Purdie in 1960 and they moved to Cedar Rapids and later divorced in 1989.

Barbara believed that volunteerism is the rent one pays for the space they occupy in life. She served on numerous boards, including Cedar Rapids Parent’s Preschool, Children’s Theater, Junior League of Cedar Rapids, Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre and the Cedar Rapids Garden Club. A great deal of her volunteer work involved Cedar Rapids Museum of Art and the Educational Puppetry Committee of the Junior League. She wrote five puppet shows, two of which were broadcast on local television. Later, Barbara attended Coe College, and in 1990 she received a degree in English and Literature. She worked for a stint at SCI and In 1992 she married Bill Coppock. Upon Bill’s retirement, they moved to Aiken, S.C., where she discovered the joys of painting and golfing. After Bill’s death, she moved back to Cedar Rapids to be near her family until passing.

The family wishes to thank Cottage Grove Place for loving and caring for Barbara, where she made so many friends among residents and staff. She was an active member of “The 4:30 Club” with her daughter Anne, where they added to the enjoyment of good times for everyone. Additionally, we would like to thank Hospice of Mercy and the staff at Cottage Grove Place for making her last days comfortable.

Barbara was a gentle, generous, kind and loving woman with a wonderful sense of humor. She will be terribly missed by her family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed in her name to The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art.

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.