Joe Coppinger:
CLASS OF 1956
RUHS/Richmond High SchoolClass of 1956
Richmond, CA
Joe's Story
PERSONAL:
On September 6th 1938, in Chicago, Illinois, Joe was the third of four children born to Joseph, Sr. and Mildred Coppinger. He has two older brothers and one younger sister. The following year the family returned to their native Pennsylvania and resided in Reading until after WWII, when they migrated to the San Francisco Bay Area city of San Pablo, California. Joe attended public schools until 1955, when he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He married his childhood sweetheart,Connie, in June 1956, and then was off to serve with the Air Force in the Far East. Joe and Connie have two sons and two daughters, nine grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
MILITARY SERVICE:
Joe ompleted Basic Training in Pleasanton CA and Basic Medical Tech Training in Montgomery, AL. Joe's overseas assignments were in Japan, Okinawa, England and Korea. Stateside, he was assigned in Pleasanton CA, Omaha NE, Sacramento CA, Victorville CA, Albuquerque NM, and Riverside CA, where he retired as a Dental Service Superintendent in 1985, in the grade of Senior Master Sergeant. He is a Life Member of the DAV and VFW, and member of the AF Sergeants Association. His Military Education and Awards include, but are not limited to: Senior Dental Technician¿s School at Wichita Falls TX; Dental Equipment Repair at Rochester NY, Portland OR, San Antonio TX, Wichita Falls TX, and Victorville CA; Management for Air Force Working Leaders at RAF Station Bentwaters UK; AF NCO Leadership School at George AFB CA; AF Systems Command NCO Academy at Kirtland AFB NM; and the USAF Senior NCO Academy at Maxwell AFB AL. Awards include Distinguished Graduate; Drill and Tactics; Outstanding NCO of the Year, and Outstanding Senior NCO of the Year. Decorations include, but are not limited to: AF Meritorious Service Medal (2 bronze clusters); AF Commendation Medal; AF Outstanding Unit Award; Army Good Conduct Medal (2 loops); AF Good Conduct Medal (one Silver and two Bronze loops); Expeditionary Forces; National Defense Service; Expert Marksman; Master Medical Technician¿s Badge, and others.
Some other areas of interest include Joe becoming a Senior Scouter with the BSA in the late 60's. He attended Adult Scouter Camps for Back Pack and First Aid training, and accompanied his Troop on several weekend back-packing hikes, including an 8-day trek of...Expand for more
the John Muir Trail. In the mid 70's he developed a Dental Explorer Scout Post (85 members) in Albuquerque, NM, which was the first such Post in the U.S.
EDUCATION:
Associate of Arts Degree in Psychiatric Technology,San Bernardino Valley College; and Bachelor of Science Degree in Education, Southern Illinois University; plus all requisites for Registered Nursing. Following military service Joe worked with Children and Adults on Inpatient Psychiatric Units in Corona, Riverside County, and San Bernardino County,where he retired in 2000. He remains currently licenced with CAPT.
MASONIC:
Petitioned Lodge 804 in Moreno Valley CA in August, was Initiated on 19 Sep; Passed on 3 Nov; Raised on 1 Dec 1983. He entered the officer line in 1984 and worked through all stations to the chair of the Junior Deacon. Due to a college commitment, he left the line and returned as Senior Deacon in 1989, and progressed forward to the Station of Master, where he served from Jan 1991 thru Apr 1992. In addition to becoming a Life Member of his Lodge and serving on every committee, he served two years as Temple Association Secretary, Four years as Lodge Secretary, three years as Lodge Treasurer, and since 1984 he has been an active Candidate Coach. In 1996 he was presented the coveted Hiram Award, and in Dec 2008 he received the 25-Year Masonic Anniversary Pin.
OTHER MASONIC MEMBERSHIP
Brother Coppinger joined the Valley of San Bernardino Scottish Rite in 1987 (now a Life Member), was an active member of the 7th and 20th Degree Teams for several years; served five years as Bulletin Editor (Jan 2000-Jan 2005); Master of Kadosh, Consistory, 2008; and currently serves as Almoner of All Bodies; Bulletin Editor (since May 2009); and as Master of Ceremonies, Chapter of Rose Croix. He was invested with the rank and decoration of Knight Commander of the Court of Honour (KCCH) in 2003. He also holds active membership with the Philalethes Society; Riverside Area Scottish Rite Club; and Riverside High 12. He is a past member of Al Malaikah Shrine; Tri-County Secretaries Association; So. Cal Past Masters Association; So. Cal Research Lodge, and the Empire Valley Shrine Club.
HOBBIES AND SPECIAL INTERESTS:
Playing harmonica/drums; gardening; doing research on historical events, and watching a/o reading action and mysteries stories.
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