West Virginia (WOAY) A cornerstone of West Virginia’s federal judiciary, the Honorable John T. Copenhaver, Jr., has passed away.
Judge Copenhaver continuously served on the federal bench from his appointment as referee in bankruptcy in 1958 until his death, marking 68 years of service and making him the longest-serving U.S. federal judge in our nation’s history.
President Gerald Ford nominated Copenhaver in 1976 as a federal judge of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.
He served for over four decades before reaching senior status in 2018.
Copenhaver was also a World War II veteran, working as a staff sergeant from 1944 to 1946.
Longtime colleague Judge Joseph Goodwin described Copenhaver as a commanding presence in the courtroom, saying he was deeply respected by everyone who knew him.
Goodwin added that even after turning 100 last September, Judge Copenhaver’s memory, sharpness, and devotion to his work never faded.
Funeral arrangements have been finalized.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 19, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. At Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home on Virginia Street in Charleston.
Funeral services are scheduled for Wednesday, May 20, at 11:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church.
