David Cooper

Rev. David Cooper (Capt. USN Ret.), age 91 of Bolivar, departed this life Friday afternoon, May 31, 2013, at his home in Bolivar, Tennessee.



Born December 1, 1921 in Mason, TN, to Utley Thomas and Virgie Annie Sylvester Cooper he was a retired Captain from the US Navy after 29 years of service to his country as a Chaplain. He spent his first twelve years in Toone, TN where he was a paper boy in Toone and Bolivar. He worked for Hugh Williams at the Bolivar Bulletin and Marion Creekmore's grocery. He attended Union University and a Baptist Seminary in Louisville where he met his future bride, Margaret Pardue. They married November 16, 1948 while he was pastoring a small mission church in California. They were married 56 years and moved 22 times in churches and in the Navy. He made the statement that the proudest time in his life was when they were blessed with a fine little son who graduated with honors from Harvard University.



While serving in the Korean Conflict and Vietnam War, he received several honors which included the National Defense with Bronze Star, Korean Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign, Republic of Vietnam Staff Service Ribbon First Class, United Nations, Vietnam Service, Armed Forces Expeditionary and Navy Commendations with Combat "V".



Rev. Cooper was widely known in the community where he was a deacon at First Baptist Church and was active with the Golden Sounds and Keen Agers. He was a member of various organizations including Rotary International, Masons, Literacy Council, American Legion, VFW, ROA, Forrestal Association, Hardeman County Chamber of Commerce, APTA, Chaplain Volunteers, and Hardeman County Ministers.



In addition to his son William Thomas Cooper and wife Eileen of Swampscott, MA, he is survived by a granddaughter, Angelica Grace Cooper; 2 sisters, Ruby Janice Williams of Los Angeles, CA, and Kitty Brush of Selmer, TN; 2 brothers Harold T. Cooper of Jackson, TN, and Lynn S. Cooper of Orlando, FL.; a nephew and his wife, Ricky and Eva Reynolds and 2 grandnephews, Harold Reynolds of Bolivar and Joe Reynolds of Grand Junction, his "golden girl" Stephanie Reynolds, and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by 2 sisters Eloise Reynolds and Katherine Stewart, and a brother Thomas Cooper.