William M. "Bill" Cooper

William Cooper was born in Morgan County, Kentucky on October 12, 1928. He was preceded in death by his wife Ava Caroline (Carol) McClanahan, both parents, a grandson, 3 sisters, 3 brothers and a son-in-law. He leaves to cherish his memory five children: Sharon Clark, Mary Etta Cooper Sizemore (Carl), David Cooper, Ruth Cooper Hawkins (Hoover) and Daniel Cooper; 13 grandchildren: Tracy Feusler (Cody), Jim Sizemore, Jeff Garci (Shari), Carla McRae (Tony), Jackie Sidell (Jamie Ladd), Brandon Welsh (Jessica), Tony St Clair, Jaren Hawkins, Cheyenne Cooper (James Koplin), Breanna Williams, Jai Cooper (Haley), Danielle Cooper and Caroline Cooper; 16 great-grandchildren, 3 great-great-grandchildren and numerous other relatives. After Bill’s mother passed when he was a preschooler. He lived with his father for a while before going to live with his maternal grandparents. His older sister moved him to Indiana when he was 12. He lived there until he was 16 years old when he joined the US Army (under pretense of being 18). He fought in Korea and Germany before he was honorably discharged 2 years later when another sister contacted her congressman to disclose his true age. After his discharge, he moved to Grundy, Virginia, to stay with his maternal uncle. There he met and married his wife of 60 years, Ava Caroline McClanahan (Carol). He worked in the coal mines for nearly 2 years until his wife realized he could be severely wounded or killed. They then moved to Connersville, Indiana in 1950 where he was taught tool and die set-up trade. He used that to support his family of 7. He retired from D&M when the factory closed but continued to work until he was 78. He was very athletic and hyper active. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating and shooting. He could be seen well into his mid 80’s, pushing his boat in or pulling it out of Brookville Lake. He always refused help because, to him, he didn’t need it. His heart always belonged to his mother and he never let her memory die through his last days. She was the key to open or close him up to anyone. His wife was his longest love and he spoke of her constantly. He took great pride in caring for her when she became sick, rarely leaving her side. His life forever changed when she passed in 2009. He had fulfilled his purpose of living and his continued thought was he couldn’t go on without her. He will be greatly missed by family and friends. Funeral services will be conducted at Showalter Blackwell Long Funeral Home, Myers Chapel, Connersville, at 2 p.m. on Saturday April 7, 2018. Interment will follow in Dale Cemetery with military honors provided by the Fayette County Veterans Council. Friends may visit at the funeral home from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 7, 2018, where memorial contributions may be made to Help the Animals, 2101 W Main St, Richmond, IN 47374. For additional information and to send condolences or memories, go to www.ShowalterBlackwellLong.com.