Wade Thomas “WT” Cooper, Sr. went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on November 8, 2018. A member of the Greatest Generation, he served in World War II in the United States Army Air Corps on a B-26 bomber in the European Theater. He is survived by his loving and faithful wife of 69 years, Marie Wilson Cooper and three children: Cathy Oaks, Wade Cooper Jr. (Myrna) and Bob Cooper (Marla); seven grandchildren: Kelly Howard (Dan), Kim Flood (Alan), Tray Cooper (Krista), Ashley Sessoms (Richey), Blair Mize, Jessica Viall (Trey), and Kyle Pearson; and eleven great-grandchildren: Nadia, Ross and Millie Howard; Maddie, Alaina and Benjamin Sessoms; Wade IV, Brynn and Luke Cooper; Grace Mize and Rylan Carlton. He is also survived by his sister, Edna Earle Sturdivant (Joe), brother Donald Cooper (Dot) and sister-in-law Barbara Cooper. He is predeceased by his parents: William Earl and Ruby Stevens Cooper, and brother Doug Cooper.
“WT” owned Cooper’s Furniture House in Cary, NC with his brothers for over 30 years, inheriting the business from his father in 1952. He was past president of the Raleigh Furniture Dealers Association, past Commander of the Cary American Legion Post 67, a previous member of the Board of Directors of BB&T, a member of the Cary Rotary Club and long-time member of Cary First Baptist Church, where he taught Sunday School for many years.
“WT” loved to travel with Marie, especially to his summer home in Pine Knoll Shores, NC (the “Camp”) and Daytona Beach Shores, FL, where he could be found fishing in years past, or relaxing on the beach and talking with his many friends. While in the Cary, NC he loved eating breakfast with long-time friends and visiting the YMCA for exercise and fellowship.
The family will receive friends from 11:00am-12:45pm on Tuesday, November 13, at First Baptist Church, 218 S. Academy Street, Cary, with a funeral service immediately after at 1:00pm. Burial will follow at Montlawn Memorial Park, 2911 S. Wilmington Street, Raleigh.
The family wishes to thank the tremendous staff at Glenaire Retirement Center in Cary, NC, and his doctor, Todd Helton, for their loving care during this last year of his declining health. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Alexander Family YMCA and/or Cary First Baptist Church in remembrance of his life.
