Gary Cooper passed away on February 24, 2026, at the age of 78, after a nearly 16 year battle with cancer. Gary was born in Long Beach, CA, on May 27, 1947, and was a resident of Rancho Cucamonga, CA. He is survived by his two sons, Sean and Jeffrey Cooper, both of San Bernardino, CA and five grandchildren; Kelsey, Kaitlyn, Chloe, Ryan, and Audrey Cooper. Gary was also blessed with five great-grandchildren.
Gary proudly served his country as a member of the Air Force during the Vietnam War, stationed in both South Korea and Vietnam. Gary became a deputy with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in 1974. He served the citizens of Los Angeles County for nearly 30 years, before retiring in 2003. After retiring, Gary was an avid car collector, in addition to designing and building surfboards. He courageously battled melanoma for 16 years, showing remarkable strength and resiliency through years of treatments and setbacks.
To honor his memory, a Graveside Service will be held at Riverside National Cemetery, 22495 Van Buren Boulevard, Riverside, CA 92518, US, on March 30, 2026, from 10:15 am to 10:45 am.
