William Anderson Cooper

Graveside services for William Anderson Cooper, of Denison, Texas, were held at 10 a.m. Monday, June 6, 2022 at Ringold Cemetery.

T/Sgt. William Anderson Cooper passed away Sunday, May 29, 2022, at age 90. Andy was a long-time resident of Swink, Okla. He was born in Phoenix, Ariz., to Froney Mae (Baker) and George Dalton Cooper on July 24, 1931.

In 1948, Andy joined the Army-Air Corps attending Basic Training at Fort Ord Army Base in Monterey, Calif. He received medical aid training at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston Base in San Antonio, Texas. His first assignment was at Fassberg Air Base, Germany during the 1948-1949 Berlin Airlift Crises when Soviet forces blockaded rail, road and water access to allied-controlled areas of Berlin. He participated in getting coal, flour and other cargo into West Berlin. From there, he was transferred to Neubiberg Air Base, Germany, where he attended Drivers Training School and Military Safety School Training in Accident Prevention, First Aid and Fire Prevention. He then completed medical training in Medical Lab, Chest X-Ray, and Outpatient training. Military Medic and First Aid Maneuvers took place in Metz, France.

When Army-Air separated into two military branches, he transferred from the Army to the United States Air Force. He served in hospitals on Eglin AFB, Fort Walton, Fla., where he served internship in all hospital departments and received medical surgical training and base management; Gunter AFB Air University School of Aviation Medicine, Montgomery, Ala., where he received a diploma of Medical Service Technician and completed courses in Phase 1 SAC Security Indoctrination and Air Force Supervisors Management; Narsarsuazq AFB, Thule, Greenland, Denmark; Lincoln AFB Hospital, Lincoln, Neb.; Forbes AFB Hospital, Topeka, Kan. While in Kansas, through correspondence courses, he received his high school diploma from the United States Armed Forces Institute, Madison, Wis., and received his certificate of achievement from the state of Kansas. In Lajes AFB Azores, Portugal (Terceira Island), he completed OJT Training and Supervisor courses.

On Dec. 31, 1968, he retired at Perrin AFB in Sherman, Texas, after 20 years serving in military hospitals as operating room supervisor and technician. He was a member of the Military Retired Association. After his military career, he lived out his life as a cattle rancher/farmer north of Swink. Andy was an avid fisherman, hunter, traveler and enjoyed playing cards and dominoes and watching professional football. He was of the Missouri Synod Lutheran Faith. He believed he was responsible for his own actions and that his relationship with God was personal. Andy loved and believed in the greatness of America, flying our nation’s flag daily.

Andy is preceded in death by his parents: George and Froney Mae (Baker) Cooper; brother, Tony Edward Cooper; sister, Mae Oma Provence; brothers-in-law: Clifford Poteet, Max Thomason, Toby Blair, Ray Fennell, JW Tuck; Inlaws: Richard and Delores Bland, Jr. and June James, Jack and Geneva Hudson, Wayne and Mary Duncan; son, William Woodruff; step-son, Ronald Tucker; step-daughter, Sheila Watts; grandsons: Allan Dale Kilburn and Jason Woodruff; paternal grandparents: George and Luthenia (Ferguson) Cooper and maternal grandparents: William G. and Ellie L. (Hoover) Baker.

Andy is survived by his loving wife, Ester Jane Cooper; sisters: Goldie Thomason of Stroud, Burniece Tuck of Idabel, Mildred Litsey and husband, Lester of Fort Towson; brother, Quorter Cooper and wife, Mary of Hugo; brothers-in-law: Harden Provence of Swink, Bill Duncan and wife, Sue of Spencerville; daughter-in law, Mary Woodruff of Peru, Neb; children: Dale Allen of Nevada, Teresa and husband, John Colley of Spencerville, Charlene and husband, Mike Ridgway of Durant, Clayton Cooper and girlfriend, Felicia Freeman of Mead, Sheila and Kerry Robinson of Roberta; stepchildren: Debbie Tucker of Rattan, Donald Tucker and wife, Tammy of Burkburnett, Texas; grandchildren: William Cogburn and wife, Tammy of Hugo, Brian Cogburn of Wright City, Rachel Davis and husband, Ethan of Norman, M. Andrew Ridgway of Ada, Chase Cooper of Calera, Tashona Burcham and husband, Chance of Roberta, Ashlyn Loper and husband, Josh of Mead, Jennifer Woodruff and fiance, Raymond Lingle of Lesterville, S.D., Stephanie Woodruff-Corliss of Sabetha, Kan., Amanda Andelt of Beatrice, Neb., Warren Woodruff of Sterling, Neb., Jason James of Peru, Neb., Reanna Allen-Phillips of Stuart, Fla., Emily Allen of Stuart, Casey Allen of Blythe, Ga., Jeffrey Allen of Missoula, Mont., Mandy Mason and husband, Tony of Lincoln, Neb., and many great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.

In leu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org). Doug McClure officiated the service, under the

Doug McClure officiated the service, under the direction of Miller & Miller Funeral Home.