R. Bruce Cope

Robert Bruce Cope Sr., 92, a life long resident of Lexington, passed away on Thursday, July 11, 2019 at Alston Brook in Lexington.  A memorial service will be held at 3:00pm Sunday, July 14th at Center Hill Baptist Church, where he was a member by the Revs. Brian Alexander and Lamar Moore. The family will receive friends following the service in the church fellowship hall.  Bruce was born March 16, 1927 in Lexington to Robert Lee Cope and Nancy Maie Tesh Cope.  He attended Lexington City Schools prior to enlistment with the Navy in 1945.  Following his Navy discharge, he worked for Green Printing Company for eight years.  In 1953, he became a Vocational Instructor in the printing department of the Junior Order Children’s Home.  He assisted Superintendent, Robert Bruton, in his duties.  He coached the Junior Order High School basketball and baseball teams. In 1961, Bruce went to work for Piedmont Publishing Company in the ad production department of the Winston Salem Journal.  During the time, he also worked in printing production for Creative Printing of Lexington.  In 1974, he was appointed by the Davidson County Board of Commissioners as Tax Collector.  He served with the Tax Department as Tax Collector and Tax Supervisor until his retirement in 1987.  After retirement from Davidson County, Bruce became interim Tax Supervisor for Rockingham County from 1987 to 1990.  After leaving Rockingham County, he was appointed to the North Carolina Tax Commission by Governor Mike Easley and served in the capacity of chairman from 1993 to 2001.  Mr. Cope was a life long member of the Democratic Party.  Bruce’s civic and community activities included past membership with Lexington Jaycees and Civitan Clubs.  He was a member o f the Junior Order of United American Mechanics.  He held offices with the Linwood and Central Davidson Junior High PTA’s and Boosters.  He was a member of Center Hill Baptist Church, serving as deacon, secretary and treasurer.  He was a member of the Lexington Post of the American Legion.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his dear wife of 66 years, Joan Myers Cope, as well as his brother, Charles Cope and five sisters, Margaret Jarrett, Louise Gobble, Helen Wilhelm, Mable McCarn and Ruth Comer.    He is survived by his daughters: Vickie Allred and Linda Bost (Roger); his sons, Bob Cope and Bill Cope (Pam); his grandchildren,  Lauren Livingston (KeriBeth), Zach Snyder (Victoria), Zeb Cope (Sydney) and Wil Cope; his great-grandchildren:  Ezra Livingston, Jude Livingston and Myers Snyder; and close family friends, Skip and Joan Guest.  Memorials may be made to Center Hill Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 3759 NC Highway 8, Lexington NC 27292 or to American Children's Home, 3844 NC Highway 8, Lexington NC 27292.