James Irven Cooper

Jim was born in Yorktown, Texas on June 3, 1944. He was the youngest of four children to JT and Mildred Cooper. He served 4 years in the Navy aboard the USS Ranger. He met Janice, his wife of 59 years, on a weekend leave at Deception Pass in the state of Washington. They married on November 22, 1966, in Bellingham Washington and moved to Texas when Jim got out of the Navy. He graduated from UT Arlington with a BBA in accounting. Jim spent his career working as an accountant in the Oil & Gas industry.

Jim was a football fan. He enjoyed High School, College, and Pro football. He listened to country music, and you could often hear him singing, but not always with the correct words from the songs.

Jim, Coop, Jimbo, as he was affectionately known, never met a stranger. His journey here on earth was marked with love, compassion, and encouragement through his walk with Christ.

Jim taught 4th grade Sunday school with Janice, mentored a 6th grade group of boys at the church through their high school years, was a reading buddy with second graders through San Antonio Youth literacy in the public schools and served with Project Transformation through the church summer reading program.

Jim is survived by his wife, Janice Cooper; daughters Christine Cummins (Doug), Pam Richardson (Martin); and Celia Olgin; sister Martha Jo Turner; brothers Bill Cooper (Marie); and Bob Cooper; granddaughters Kathryn Stewart (James) and Jennifer Cummins; nieces, nephews, cousins, and countless friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at Northern Hills United Methodist Church in San Antonio, TX at 11 a.m. His internment will be held on Monday, November 24, 2025, at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery at 10:45 a.m.

Memorials can be made in Jim’s honor to Northern Hills United Methodist Church.

The Celebration of life service can be viewed on the Northern Hills YouTube channel.