Cornelia B. Copenhaver, 97, of Blacksburg, died peacefully on Mar. 6, 2019 at Showalter Center, Warm Hearth Village in Blacksburg.
Born June 24, 1921 in Blacksburg to Charlotte Matthews Moore Harris and William Gideon Harris, the eldest of five children, Cornelia was reared in Darien, Conn. and Blacksburg. “Neil” attended George Washington University and married Elwin I. Brawner Jr. of Alexandria, Va. in 1940.
They had one son born on New Years Day 1944. Her husband, a US Army Air Corps Pilot was killed in a crash at Wright-Patterson Air Field in Dayton, Ohio in April 1945. “Neil” married H. Barns Copenhaver of Tazewell, Va. and Blacksburg in 1956 and they lived in Blacksburg, Boones Mill and Salem before returning to Blacksburg. Mr. Copenhaver died Mar. 24, 2013. Cornelia is survived by her son, Elwin I. Brawner of Bald Head Island, N.C., with Judith and their children, William Matthews Brawner of Raleigh, N.C., Melissa Brawner Reis of Henrico, Va., and Elizabeth Whitney Brawner of Naples, FL., and five great grandchildren all of whom she dearly loved. Burial was in Roselawn Memorial Gardens and Celebration of Life Service for friends and family is planned for Thursday, Mar. 21, 2019 at McCoy Funeral Home starting at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Good Samaritan Hospice, 1160 Moose Dr. Christiansburg, Va. 24073 or to Warm Hearth Foundation 2607 Warm Hearth Dr. Blacksburg, Va. 24060. Arrangements by McCoy Funeral Home, Blacksburg.
