Gerald Allen Coupland

Gerald Allen Coupland, 96, of Odessa, Missouri, passed away May 25, 2026, in Odessa surrounded by his loving family.

Gerald was born on March 9, 1930, near Chapel Hill, Missouri, the son of Elmo Coupland and Opal (Wolfenbarger) Coupland. He graduated from Bates City High School in 1947.

In September of 1947, he went to work at General Motors Leeds District in Kansas City, Missouri. He and Betty Filler met and started dating in 1950. He gave Betty an engagement ring for Christmas in 1951, and they were married on September 12,1952 in Odessa. Gerald was a member of Odessa Church of Christ.

Gerald enlisted in the Army in 1953 and completed basic training in Ft. Riley, Kansas. He was then sent overseas to Korea as part of the Third Infantry Division, 15th Regiment where he served as a medic from January 1954 to October 1954. He then was transferred to Honolulu, Hawaii, at Scofield Barracks. Betty joined him in Hawaii, and they lived there for eight months before he was discharged as a Sergeant First Class in June 1955. He returned to work at GM in Kansas City where he worked for a total of over 35 years before retiring at the age of 52 in January 1982.

For the last 44 years of his life, he enjoyed an active retirement. He loved gardening and was a skilled woodworker. He loved cars and enjoyed going to car shows. He loved the lake of the Ozarks, and he took his family to their place nearly every weekend through the summer to boat and ski. One of his greatest joys was watching his grandkids compete in sports and activities. And he was a dedicated member of a group of Odessa coffee-shop hoppers.

He was a member of the Odessa VFW, Odessa Youth Board, and Odessa Planning & Zoning Board, and was past president of Odessa Cemetery Board.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Elmo and Opal, and his wife, Betty. Survivors include his two daughters: Audrey Ann Coupland of Independence, Missouri; and Brenda Sue Madsen (Brian) of Odessa, Missouri; two grandsons and four great-grandchildren: Brady (Sarah) and children Ada, Emma, and Charlie; and Brendan (Nicole) and son Calder; and his sister: Delores Lockhart of Odessa; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 30, 2026 at Odessa Church of Christ, 210 N. 4th St., Odessa, MO, 64076. The funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m. at Odessa Church of Christ. Interment with Military Honors will be in Odessa Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been suggested to the Odessa Church of Christ or Luminos Hospice. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Ralph O. Jones Funeral Home, 306 S. 2nd St., Odessa, MO, 64076, 816-633-5524, www.LedfordFamilyFH.com .