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Doug and Rebecca are proud owners of Lantz Funeral Home. Doug is the funeral director and embalmer. They are both from Pocahontas county and are giving back to the community. In 2007 we bought the property that we are on now. In 2011 we was able to do Dougs dream of build a business in our community. Doug volunteers at the Marlinton fire department where he is a fire fighter and emt for the department. Rebecca Manages alot of the day to day business. In 2017 the both decided to purchase the old Catholic Church building in Alderson, and establish a funeral chapel in Greenbrier, Monroe, and Summers Countys to help the families there also. In 2020 we build a pet crematorium and we are serving all these counties with pet cremations also.
Lantz Funeral Home - Alderson
Travis Copenhaver has been involved in his community for a very long time serving in both the volunteer fire and EMS capacities in Alderson. He officially started in March 1991 as a Junior Fireman. He was inspired to grow his EMS certifications by some of the best EMS providers in the state. Those men and women were true heroes who he was honored to work with and learn from that taught him more than any class ever could. Travis progressed from his first “official” certification in CPR and First Aid to a Nationally Registered Paramedic and Class 3 Level Interfacility State Paramedic.
Travis also was blessed to have obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from Bluefield State College and have taught many of the EMS providers in our region while working as the EMS Programs Director at New River Community and Technical College. While he has a true devotion to caring for those in emergency situations, a long-time friend tried to convince him to go to mortuary school long before becoming a paramedic. John Longanacre, was an example of what many local folks thought funeral directors should be. Travis always felt if he ever did become a funeral director, John would be his example to live up to.
During the time Travis served as Chief of EMS at Pocahontas Memorial Hospital, he met Doug Lantz. Doug and Travis became very close friends. Doug’s personality and beliefs are very similar to those of the late John Longanacre. Doug’s firm belief that “if we take care of families in their time of need, God will take care of us” is why Travis became involved on the level he has with Doug. From the first time he observed Doug with a family who truly needed help financially, he followed Doug’s golden rule.
Alderson was in a position to need a family focused, follow through to the end, compassionate funeral home when Travis reached out to Doug and Rebecca to bring a satellite of their business to Alderson in 2016. It never dawned on anyone involved that it would lead to Travis going to one of the most highly respected mortuary schools in the United States and becoming a Funeral Director and Embalmer, John A. Gupton Mortuary School located in Nashville, Tennessee.
Graduating in December 2023 with his Associate of Applied Science in Funeral Service, passing both National Boards of Arts and Sciences, and the West Virginia Funeral Law exam has been one of the most challenging journeys of Travis’s life. Without his wife Elizabeth, sons Brayden and Peyton, daughter Bailey, all of the town’s staff and many close friends and family support it would not have been possible.
It is truly an honor when friends and family entrust their loved one or pet to you to care for and carry out their final wishes. It is extremely important to use the knowledge gained from the education and experience to make the process as easy as possible for those during their greatest time of need left behind as well. Travis feels fortunate to have been educated by not only the legendary Todd Van Beck, but a host of others who have carried on the tradition and funeral service practices so important to give those in need the best possible care he can.
Travis is a West Virginia Funeral Service Licensee and primarily serves our Alderson service area.