October 21, 1914-September 4, 2008
Hosea Woodrow “Woody” Cooper Sr. passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, after a long, rich life. He was 93.
Woody was born October 21, 1914, in Crawford, Tenn. After a stint with the Civilian Conservation Corps in Henryville, Tenn., and several months at Walter Reed Hospital recovering from an injury he received in the CCC, Woody returned home to Tennessee, where he met his lifelong sweetheart, Willie Blaylock, in Crossville. They were married April 15, 1937, and moved to Dayton, Ohio, in 1938, where they raised four children—Jim, Woody Jr., Brenda and Bob. During World War II, Woody enlisted in the Navy, and then worked for the U.S. Air Force in Panama, repairing instruments on fighter planes. After the war, Woody worked various construction jobs until he went to work for the Duriron Co., where he worked until his retirement in 1979.
Woody was a lifelong member of Southern Baptist churches in Tennessee and Ohio. He helped start Dayton’s Meadowdale Baptist Church in the early 1960s, hosting its first service in the living room of the home he shared with Willie and his children. After moving to Kettering in 1973, Woody spent many years as a devoted member of the Far Hills Baptist Church and, most recently, was a member of First Baptist Kettering. During his years of service, he was a choir leader, deacon and Sunday School teacher. One of his favorite activities throughout his life was singing hymns.
Woody was preceded in death by his mother, Fanny, and his son, Woody Jr. (1995). He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Willie (Blaylock) Cooper; son James (Ann) of Colorado, daughter Brenda (Ted Pease), of Utah and California; and son Robert of Arizona. He leaves behind eight grandchildren: Tammy Sullivan (John), Bryan Mullins (Amber McCurdy) and Denise Landrigan (James), who live in Riverside & Kettering and provided much love and care to their grandparents during the period of Woody’s declining health; Kimberly Cooper, Ken Cooper, and Laura Wilkes (James), all living in Colorado; Andy and Cheyenne Cooper, who are living in Arizona; Michael Cooper (NYC) and Dominique Fulkerson (HI) and 10 great-grandchildren. Woody also leaves behind many loving friends and extended family members.
Visitation will be held September 8, 11:00, followed by services at noon, First Baptist Church of Kettering, 3939 Swigart Road. Pastor Kenneth Tye, Horse Shoe Bend Baptist Church, Hamilton, OH, and Willie’s nephew Dr. James Blaylock, pastor of Corinth Baptist Church, London, KY, will officiate. Burial Bellbrook Cemetery, Upper Bellbrook Road will follow.
No comments:
Post a Comment