Victor Daniel Kopecky (Vic) was born July 21, 1937, in Granger, to Frances Meyer Kopecky and Joseph William Kopecky. Vic passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on Nov. 26, 2022.
Vic, of Czech-Bohemian heritage, grew up a sharecropper’s son in a Texas cotton patch. He joined the Navy at the age of 18. During his devoted 20 years of service, Vic was a plane captain, crew chief, power plant crew leader and aircraft machinist.
During his spare time, while in the Navy, Vic studied government and politics at the University of Maryland.
He was certified in general conservation.
He was a volunteer firefighter, and a member of Toastmasters International After he retired from the Navy, he spent the next 10 years on standby reserve. He was a well-liked high school Sunday school teacher for many years at Saint Andrew’s On The Sound Episcopal Church. He was a published poet and photographer.
He started a fishing lure business, Reveille Fishing Lure Co.
Vic took time to play the role of Santa Claus during the holidays of 1989.
During his time in the Navy, he married Carleen G. Kopecky, who passed shortly after his retirement.
During their marriage, he adopted Carleen’s daughter, Robin, who is deceased as well.
Vic loved politics, fishing, hunting, traveling all over the world, photography, and poetry. His greatest joy was being with his family.
He fell in love with Rebecca Phillips Kopecky, also deceased.
Vic and Becky enjoyed 17 years of marriage. Of the marriage, they have three children, Danielle Lyn- Kopecky Galloway (Neal) of Leland, North Carolina, Victoria Kopecky Cook (Joseph) of Wilmington, North Carolina, and Samuel (Alex) Alexander Coston (Jeremy) of Tennessee.
Vic was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Edward Kopecky, Arnold Kopecky, Lorene Steffek and Helen Elizabeth Kopecky.
Vic had four stepchildren, Sherri Woodcock (Art) of Richmond, Patricia Maasarani, deceased, David Samuel Melvin of Carolina Beach, North Carolina, and Jaymi Melvin McCreight (Paul) of Wilmington. He had five grandchildren, Lillian Rose Kopecky Galloway, Emma Grace Deboard, Trevor Nolan Kopecky Galloway, Camberli Dawn Bias and Daisy Ann Cook.
In addition, he had step grandchildren, John David Woodcock (Tia), Bryan Marwan Maasarani , Brittany Arafel Mccreight, Rebecca Marie Woodcock Gilstrap (Donald), Bailey Janette McCreight. He adored his great grandchildren, Dane, Theadosia, Jordan, Luke and Charlie.
