Los Angeles
County
Biographies
ISABELLE
EBY COPE
When
the Business and Professional Women’s Club of Alhambra honored Isabelle E. Cope
as its most successful and outstanding “Woman of the
Year” for 1960-1961, it was said of her that she “…has set a fine example in
her successful business career and is an inspiration to women in business and
professions through her career achievement.”
This was the first time the Club had bestowed this honor. Mrs. Cope attained the position of vice
president of the First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Alhambra in
1960, after having served the association since 1924, at which time it was
known as the Alhambra Building and Loan Association. Two other employees, Arthur G. Kruse, who has
been president of the Association since 1943, and Margaret G. Meenan, who has been secretary of the Association since
1955, also worked at the Alhambra Building and Loan Association before it
merged into the First Federal Savings and Loan Association. Mrs. Cope attributes much of her success to
the fact that Arthur Kruse has always honored the capability of men and women
equally, and has been scrupulously fair in granting promotions to women whose
work warranted advancement. Mrs. Cope
started at First Federal Savings of Alhambra as a teller, and soon advanced to
be in charge of the savings department.
She became assistant secretary of the association in the late 1930’s, and
assistant vice president in 1955. She
has been an officer of the association for twenty-five years, and recently
served a four year term on the Board of Governors of the American Savings and
Loan Institute, and she has represented the First Federal Savings of Alhambra
in several United States cities. Even in
her early days with the Association Mrs. Cope’s work there was never just a job
to her; it was always an absorbing career to which she gave her devoted attention
no matter what the cost in time and effort.
Born
Isabelle Eby in Germantown, Ohio, on July 24, 1898, Mrs. Cope is one of five
children of Charles Walter Eby, a farmer, and Chloanna
(Clark) Eby.
She received her elementary and high school education in Germantown and
graduated from the Germantown High School in 1916. She continued her education in California by
attending classes offered by the American Savings and Loan Institute. Mrs. Cope worked for two years at the
Dayton-Wright Airplane Company in Miamisburg, Ohio, in the cost department,
before coming to California in 1919.
Upon arriving in Alhambra, California, Mrs. Cope secured a position with
the Alhambra Savings and Commercial Bank, now the Security First National Bank,
as a bookkeeper and soon became head bookkeeper. The Alhambra Building and Loan Association,
now the First Federal Savings and Loan Association, was founded in 1921; Mrs.
Cope was offered a position with the organization in 1924 which she accepted.
Mrs.
Cope is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Alhambra and has belonged
to the Business and Professional Women’s Club of Alhambra for thirty-four
years, serving as treasurer for seven years.
She also belongs to the Los Angeles Council of Christian Business and Professional
Women of America. She is a member of
Chapter JY, P. E. O. Sisterhood of Alhambra, and has served as treasurer of
these organizations over the years.
In
May of 1928 the former Miss Isabelle Eby was married to Frank Conner Cope, Jr.,
at a home wedding in Alhambra. Mr. Cope,
who passed away in 1953, was a member of the Alhambra Kiwanis Club and was a
Shriner. Their
son, Frank Conner Cope, III, is married to the former Miss Wanda L. Potter, and
now lives in Sacramento with his wife and three daughters: Sharon Ann and Karen Lynn, twins, who were
born on March 30, 1953, and Cynthia Ruth, who was born
on December 30, 1955.
As
for hobbies, the biggest thrill of Mrs. Cope’s life was in 1924, when she, a
poor farm girl, purchased a Willy-Knights automobile, and automobiles have been
an absorbing interest with her ever since.
She also has a fine stamp collection which she started in 1935.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Historical Volume & Reference Works Including Alhambra, Monterey Park,
Rosemead, San Gabriel & Temple City, by Robert P. Studer,
Pages 567-568, Historical Publ., Los Angeles, California. 1962.
© 2013 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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