William "Bill" F. Cooper

William F. “Bill” Cooper

March 2, 1920 ~ July 15, 2015

William F. Cooper, age 95, of Montrose, Co., died July 15, 2015 at home.  Bill was born March 2, 1920 to Lewis Governor and Nancy (Norman) Cooper in Marianna, Arkansas.  He was the youngest of 17 children.  Bill served his country in the United States Army  from 1942 to 1945 and was honorably discharged.  He married Alice Alexander on November 3, 1941 in Marion, Arkansas.  She preceded him in death on September 4, 2009.

Bill and Alice moved to Montrose from California in 1979 after Bill retired from the Pasadena Post Office as manager of the bulk mail facility. Bill and Alice both began volunteering their time for many worthwhile projects shortly after moving to Montrose.  Bill was President of AARP and Alice served as Secretary.   Bill was chosen “Volunteer of the Year” for 1983 by Governor Lamm and was invited to Denver to receive the award.  He was elected to the Montrose City Council in 1996, serving one year of his term as Mayor of the city.  The Coopers started volunteering their service at the Senior Center when it was located in the old Annex building in downtown Montrose and continued at the Pavilion Senior Center when it opened in 1990.  Bill was a Senior Van driver for many years.

Bill was a member of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church and he enjoyed his roses and gardening. Bill was preceded in death by his wife Alice, son David Cooper, and all 16 of his brother and sisters.

A Funeral Service in celebration of Bill’s life will be held on Tuesday, July 21, 2015 at 3:00 pm at Crippin Funeral Home Chapel.  The service will conclude at the chapel.  Bill will be laid to rest at Pilgram’s Cemetery in Marianna, Arkansas next to his beloved wife.  Crippin Funeral Home & Crematory, in Montrose, Colorado is assisting the family.