Dr. Virgil William Cope, who was 80 years old and lived in Grand Blanc, passed away on March 11, 2023 as a result of Parkinson’s disease and dementia associated to Parkinson’s disease.
At eleven o’clock in the morning on Saturday, March 18, a Celebration of Life will take place at the Sharp Funeral Home and Cremation Centre, which is located at 6063 Fenton Road in Grand Blanc. On Friday, March 17, visitation will take place from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM, and on Saturday, March 18, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM.
In lieu of flowers, people who wish to express their condolences may make a donation to the Virgil Cope Chemistry Equipment Acquisition and Maintenance Endowment Fund. Ernest LaVern Cope and Fern Loretta (Peterson) Cope welcomed their son Virgil into the world on February 4, 1943 in Storm Lake, Iowa.
Virgil was their son. He received his degree in Chemistry from the University of Northern Iowa in 1965 and graduated with honours. In 1968, he received his doctoral degree from Kansas University, where he had continued his education.
He tied the knot with Sheryl Davids on the 30th of January, 1965. He was a chemistry professor at the University of Michigan-Flint for a total of 36 years during his career there. During a number of those years, he served as the chair of the department. It was during his time at the University of Michigan that he conceived up the Environmental Chemistry Programme, which was subsequently incorporated into the Green Degree in Chemistry.
In addition to gardening, he enjoyed travelling around the United States, visiting all fifty states, as well as a great number of locations outside of the United States. Reading, golf, and most importantly, his family were his favourite things to do.
