Rev. John W. Copus Jr.

Rev. John William Copus, Jr., 81, of Wooster passed away on Friday, December 19, 2025, at his residence with his family by his side. John was born January 11, 1944, in Ashland to John W. Sr. and Virginia Mae {Lightfoot} Copus.

John married Elizabeth “Betty” McAfee on August 8, 1965, they were married 60 years.

John enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps after graduating from high school. He served 52 months and was honorably discharged as a Sergeant in 1966. John was recruited by the Commercial Banking and Trust where he served as an Assistant Manager in Doylestown and later, a manager of the Sterling branch, retiring after 10 years.

John started an insulation company which grew into STA-CO Manufacturing Inc, a manufacturer of cellulose insulation with the assistance of a co-owner. The company developed into an energy resource/hardware store over the years. Living in Sterling, he became a part-time farmer.

Assisting the pastor at Wooster Foursquare Gospel Church, he was licensed and then ordained through the Foursquare denomination. Co-pastoring with his wife, they started Victory Chapel Foursquare Church in Creston for 10 years and then became pastors of Wooster Foursquare for 15 years, retiring in 2012.

John’s hobbies included traveling with family and friends, attending auctions, collecting military and Native American memorabilia, hosting yard sales, playing chess with his grandson and hiding the TV remote from his granddaughter.

John will be deeply missed by his wife, Betty; children Victoria Copus of Akron, Kathleen (Rodney) Austin of Beaver Falls, Pa., and Joshua (Elaine) Copus of West Salem; grandchildren Jasmine, Titus, and Maia; brother David S. (Jacklyn) Copus of Johnson City, TN, sisters Sandra Allen and Mary Parker all of Eastman, GA, numerous nieces and nephews.

John was preceded in death by his parents.

A Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday, December 27 at 2 p.m. at the Wooster Foursquare Church with Pastor Thomas Hooks officiating. Private burial will be at Sherwood Memorial Gardens where military rites will be held. Online tributes may be made at www.RobertsFuneralHome.com. Memorial contributions may be made to Wooster Foursquare Gospel Church, 3670 Friendsville Rd., Wooster, OH 44691 or Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare, 1900 Akron Rd., Wooster, OH 44691.