Dr. William Joseph Kopp
June 12, 1920 - May 28, 2010

William Joseph Kopp, M.D., passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on May 28, 2010. He was born in Dayton, Ohio on June 12, 1920, the son of Frederick Christopher Kopp and Catherine Folsom Kopp. Preceding him in death was his beloved wife of 58 years, Mary S. Kopp.

He was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio and graduated from Deer Park High School. He did the first year of pre-medical training at Ohio University and the remaining three years at Ohio State University. He graduated from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. While in medical school, Dr. Kopp was elected into Alpha Omega Alpha Honorary Society. He served his internship at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, VA and his pediatric residency at Milwaukee Children’s Hospital in Milwaukee, WI.

He chose the specialty of pediatrics because of his love of children. In 1953 he entered the practice of pediatrics in Huntington, WV with Dr. Thomas G. Folsom, his uncle. He practiced until 1997. While the practice of medicine changed dramatically during those 44 years, his interest in each individual patient and his admiration for the people of the Tri-State area remained constant. He missed making the house calls that characterized medicine at the start of his career because he always enjoyed traveling throughout the community and visiting the homes of his patients. He was proud of serving some families for two and even three generations. His greatest satisfaction came from watching healthy children grow up. He is remembered for the compassion and extraordinary care he showed for his patients and their families.

During his career Dr. Kopp served as honorary campaign chairman for the Cystic Fibrosis Society and he served on the Cabell County Board of Health for twelve years. He was a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Board of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, the West Virginia State Medical Association, the Cabell County Medical Association, and Enslow Park Presbyterian Church.

He is lovingly remembered as a wonderful husband, a devoted and loving father, grandfather, and uncle. He is survived by his three children, Dr. William C. Kopp and his wife, Janet, and their three children, Christopher, Liana, and Joseph, of Middletown, MD, Sandra K. Roberts and her husband, Tom, and their daughter, Mary Catherine McNutt of Lawrenceville, NJ, Dr. Richard L. Kopp and his wife, Natalie, and their two children, Colin and Rhys, of Georgetown, KY, his cousin Thomas G. Folsom, his nephews, Tom and Bob Polson, and his nieces and nephews Mike, Mark, Terry, Kevin, and Melissa Hessler and Patty Perfetti.

The family would like to express their deepest appreciation for all of the staff of the Woodlands Retirement Community who provided both of their parents with extraordinary care, compassion, love, and support. You have our greatest respect and we will be forever grateful to you.

A funeral service will be held at Enslow Park Presbyterian Church on Sunday, May 30
at 3:00 pm. The Reverend Chris Perkins will conduct the service. The family will receive friends at 2:00 pm in the church parlor. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Enslow Park Presbyterian Church or the local chapter of the Salvation Army. Klingle Carpenter Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.