Karla Copithorn, former Babylon resident

by Tiffany Elliott

Longtime Babylon resident Karla L. Copithorn died August 21, 2005 at the University Medical Center in Charlottesville, VA. She was 83 years old.

Born in Manhattan to Viggo and Theodora Yepsen, she married Rhodes H. Copithorn and settled in Babylon where the couple raised a family. She was a communicant of the Methodist Church, former president of the local American Field Service Chapter, director of the Babylon Community Chest and an employee of the Babylon Public Library. She and her husband operated a Christmas tree farm near Fair Haven, New York for seven years.

Mrs. Copithorn served as a SPAR in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II and was an officer in communications section at the USCG Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

She leaves behind her children: Frederick H. of Mt. Solon, Virginia; Rhodes of Severna Park, Massachusetts; Karla Kristine Gronsdal of Bergen, Norway; a sister, Elinor Robie of Bradford, New Hampshire, and seven grandchildren.

A memorial service for Mrs. Copithorn will be held at a later date in Hingham, Massachusetts.

Condolences may be sent to the Copithorn family, 47 Rural Drive, Mt. Solon, Virginia, 22843. Memorial contributions in Mrs. Copithorn’s name can be made to the Macular Degeneration Foundation, P.O. Box 531313, Henderson, NV 89053.