Kevin Douglas Cope

Kevin Douglas Cope, 77 of Lewisburg, PA, formerly of Westfield, PA passed on July 7, 2026 at Heritage Springs Memory Care. He was born on September 26, 1948 in Charleroi, PA. Kevin attended Frazier High School in Perryopolis, PA. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from Penn State University and his Master’s Degree from Elmira College. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather; a teacher, coach, athlete, and a friend. He was a gardener, outdoorsman, carpenter, handyman, and a voracious reader and consumer of news.

Like his garden, life gave him a lot of rocks: big rocks, little rocks, round rocks, flat rocks, and weird shaped rocks. Instead of letting those rocks weigh him down, he built a legacy: The rock wall. Rock by rock, layer by layer, each rock carefully maneuvered and expertly placed, until it was complete. True to his character, the wall wasn’t a barrier. It wasn’t intended to separate, keep people out, or stake a claim to something. Its purpose was to hold up the earth, to build something that would support and sustain. After all, he was a conservationist, from his time volunteering with the Pennsylvania Youth Conservation Corps teaching young people to re-build and clear trails, and build jack dams. On his own property, his love for nature was always on display -apples, blueberries, pumpkins, vegetables and 100+ pine trees.

He was happiest being outside: gardening, chopping wood, hunting, and hiking on his piece of the mountain, preferably with a furry friend by his side. Parker and later Kimber, were his constant companions, disappearing into the woods for hours. He was never an openly religious man, but I suspect this is where he prayed.

While he originally dreamed of being a park ranger, he found a new calling and dedicated his life to teaching social studies at Cowanesque Valley High School. In the classroom, Mr. Cope’s love for education went far beyond teaching students dates and names; he challenged all of his students to think critically about what they were learning and about the world around them. He stressed the importance of not just memorizing facts, but understanding history and the importance of exercising one’s civic duties and responsibilities. This was, of course, accomplished with a healthy dose of wit and humor for which he was well known. Outside of the classroom, he could be found coaching the high school track team. As an athlete himself, he encouraged his team to give 110%, to have confidence in their abilities, to perform with integrity, and to hold themselves accountable. He achieved his black belt in Okinawa Shorinji-ryu and prided himself in being a member of the 600 push-up club.

In his personal life, he was a dedicated husband to his wife Cheryl Rhodes Cope for 56 years, who he swore he knew he was going to marry upon meeting her when he was 16 and she was 15. They dated through high school and college, and as he predicted, they married on December 13, 1969. Throughout their marriage, they remodeled two houses, traveled, had three children, six grandchildren, four dogs, seven cats, and a partridge in a pear tree. He was an amazing father and “Pappy”: always ready to offer support and advice, help with a move or a project while always offering a hug, or a joke.

While so much was stolen from him after his diagnosis with Lewy Body Dementia, his love for history, his family, and his kindness prevailed. Kevin continued to teach, lecturing the staff at Heritage Springs on important historical events. He recognized his wife, and children, offering hugs, kisses, and “I love you” to her until the very end, long after most other memories failed him.

He is survived by his wife, Cheryl Rhodes Cope, sons Jason (Shami) Cope of Halifax, PA, and James (Jenn) Cope of Atlanta, GA, and daughter Amanda (Bernie) Rhee of Baltimore, MD, six grandchildren: Christopher Derrick Cope, Cody Foccareli, Kayla

Jane Cope, Joseph “Joey” Robert Rhee, James “Jack” Rittenhouse Cope, and Cecilia Pauline Cope, his sister, Christie Coldren of Little Summit, PA, and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his father, Carmen Cope, his mother Mildred (Waugh) Cope, his brothers James Cope and Brian Cope, and his sister Lori Jean (Cope) McWilliams.

A celebration of life will beheld at the convenience of the family.

Memorial contributions in Kevin’s name may be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association https://lbda.org/honor-your-loved-one