Robert Hewitt Cooper
APRIL 14, 1924 – JULY 16, 2024
“I know I’ve told you this story before...” “Give me a piece of paper once...”
Those words would start many a conversation with Bob Cooper, who asked to be remembered as a good person who tried to give back to the community that was good to him. And, give back he did,
...to his country, by serving as a navigator on a B24 bomber in the South Pacific in WWII, flying 48 missions from 4 bases in New Guinea, and then again in Germany, serving during the Korean War.
...to his profession, as an electrical engineer, after graduating from Bucknell University on the GI Bill, as a member of Tau Beta Pi. He worked for Sylvania in Buffalo, NY on missile defense projects. In 1965, he and his wife Shirley moved the family to Charlottesville where he worked as a manager at Ovenaire and then Murray Manufacturing in Earlysville.
...to the community as a volunteer with AHIP and CHIP to address low-income housing; at JABA as a FISH volunteer at Greer Elementary and then as administrative support to the Volunteer and Health Services departments. Bob was Mr. Fix-It for friends and family with any handyman chores and auto service at his Last Chance Garage. He mentored many students in math and was especially happy when teaching eager students in woodworking skills.
...and finally, to his family--his wife of 63 years, Shirley (deceased in 2012), daughters Cheryl, Celeste (Karl) and Cynthia (Barbara), son Jay (deceased in 2013), grandchildren Josh Malone (Maya), Devin Malone (Kate), Erin Wood, Laura Cooper, Doug Koenig (April) and great grandchildren Micah Stevenson, Evie Malone, Guy and Spencer Koenig.
When asked the secret of happiness, Bob’s response was consistent over his 100 years--“Having someone to love, something productive to do, something to look forward to and giving in return for all that life has given me.”
There will be no service. Bob and his family were grateful to the many friends and family members who gathered on April 14, 2024 to celebrate his 100 years.