Herman Arter Cooper Jr.

Coop was born in Port Arthur, Texas and raised in the Houston area. He graduated from Spring Branch High School. He attended North Central College in Naperville, Illinois on a football scholarship where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Education.

Coop served his country in the United States Navy from 1964 through 1969. During that time he was stationed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Hornet in Squadron VS-35, and served two combat cruises to Vietnam. Coop was presented with Letters of Commendation, the Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Medal, four Air Medals for heroism, National Defense Service and the Pistol Expert Medal. After leaving active duty, Coop remained in the Naval Reserves for twenty-two years and retired as a Commander.

Coop began his commercial aviation career in October 1969 when he was hired by Continental Airlines. He accumulated more than 23,000 total flight hours and retired as a Senior Captain having led flights to Europe and Hawaii. In addition to his flying, Coop was instrumental in the creation and organization of the pilots’ union, the IACP, and served as the initial Negotiating Committee chairman.

After retiring from Continental, Coop built and flew an experimental RV-6 aircraft. Coop settled in Walden on Lake Conroe in 2008. He was the original organizer of the Folds of Honor golfing fundraiser at Walden. In the three years he chaired the event, over $100,000 was raised to provide scholarships for children and spouses of wounded and fallen veterans.

Coop enjoyed golfing with his friends and was a member of the Old Dawgs. He was a multiple hole-in-one and tournament winning golfer.

Coop loved spending time with his family. Favorite activities included traveling and boating.

Coop was predeceased by his parents, Herman Cooper, Sr. and Marjorie Walker. He is survived by his wife, Brenda Cooper; his children Camille (Greg) Bostwick and Craig Cooper; his stepchildren, Jeff (Amber) Kubiak, Gena McClatchy, Kimberly (Andrew) Cockrell and Kristin (James) McConkey; his grandchildren Austin Rickenbacher, Brooke Rickenbacher, Christopher (Alexis) Kubiak, Glynnis (Alton) Boyd, Petra Kubiak, J. Taylor (Hailey) McClatchy, S. Caroline Birch, Kathryn McConkey and J. Braeden McConkey; great-grandchildren Sonora Kubiak, Soren Kubiak, Madelyn Boyd, Archer Boyd and J. Barrett McClatchy; and siblings Gloria (Richard) Paulsel and Charles Cooper.

Services will be held at Metcalf Funeral Home, 1801 E. White Oak Terrace, Conroe, Texas on Wednesday, October 19 at 5:00 pm with visitation starting at 4:00 pm. A reception will follow the service. Graveside Service and Interment will be at Houston National Cemetery Thursday at 1:30pm. Please assemble at Metcalf Funeral Directors at 11:45 am to go in procession to the cemeteryServing as pallbearers are Austin Rickenbacher, Jeffrey Kubiak, J. Taylor McClatchy, J. Braeden McConkey, Alton "AJ" Boyd, Charles Cooper, Timothy Paulsel and Derick Deaton.

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