COOPER, WILLIAM H.
Funeral services for William “Bill” Howard Cooper will be held on Saturday, August 21, at 11:30 a.m. at Fountain Memorial Funeral Home in Lafayette. Mr. Cooper, 88, passed away Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at the Rayne Guest Home.
Interment will follow in Fountain Memorial Cemetery in Lafayette.
Rev. Ira Robinson, Pastor of Asbury United Methodist Church in Lafayette, will officiate.
Mr. Cooper was born on November 21, 1921 in El Dorado, Arkansas. He spent most of his life in Louisiana, growing up in Tullos and Iowa, and spent his adult years in Jennings, Rayne and Lafayette. Bill worked in the oilfield for more than 50 years, working during that time for Sun Oil Co., Delta Gulf Construction Co., SOLOCO and Eagle Consulting. He was a member of Asbury United Methodist Church in Lafayette for thirty-five years. Bill was also a Mason and Shriner with Habibi Temple of Lake Charles.
Mr. Cooper was a proud veteran of World War II, having served admirably in the Pacific Theater as a Marine Raider. He wrote and published a book in 2003 about his wartime experiences, entitled Hell in Paradise. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and a charter member of The National World War II Museum.
Bill loved nothing more than being with his family and they will miss his broad smile and quick wit. He was a superb host known for his barbeques and parties. He also enjoyed writing, gardening and traveling.
Survivors include his loving wife of 64 years, Joyce Neal Cooper; his three children, Troy Cooper and his wife, June, of Dallas, TX, Judy Rhodes and her husband, Robin, of Lafayette, and Karen Gallaspy, also of Lafayette. He is also survived by eight grandchildren, Rachel Rossler of Forney, TX, Ben Cooper of Fort Worth, TX, Travis Rhodes of New Orleans, William Gallaspy of Little Rock, AR, and Abby Rhodes, Grace Gallaspy, Holden Rhodes and Allison Gallaspy, all of Lafayette; and great-grandchildren Hannah and Jack Rossler, Grant and Lauren Cooper and Ellie Rhodes.
Mr. Cooper was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Hattie Langley Cooper of Tullos, LA; four siblings, Walter Cooper, Brownie Cooper Wilder, Gladys Cooper Jones and Floyd Cooper; and one son-in-law, Lee Gallaspy.
Pallbearers are William Gallaspy, Troy Cooper, Ben Cooper, Alex Rossler, Holden Rhodes, and Travis Rhodes.
The family will receive visitors at Fountain Memorial Funeral Home in Lafayette on Saturday, August 21, 2010 from 8:30 a.m. until time of services.
Fountain Memorial Funeral Home & Cemetery of Lafayette, 1010 Pandora St. is in charge of arrangements.