Jon Henri Cooper

Jon was born March 1, 1943, in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, to Hubert and Pauline Cooper, the youngest of three children. He attended Bartlesville High School, and after graduating, he was accepted to the Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York. He later served as a navigator for the Merchant Marines on ships for United Fruit Company, Pacific Far East Lines, and American President Lines, Inc. During those years, he voyaged to Costa Rica, Japan, Korea, Guam, Jamaica, Midway, Taiwan, Okinawa, and Vietnam. His love of the sea was a highlight of his life, and he always had many stories about his travels to share.

Upon finishing his service, Jon completed his education at Penn State and relocated to El Paso, Texas. He had a varied career, working as a meteorologist for ASARCO and a Sales Executive for Hewlett Packard. For his third act, and not being fully ready to retire, he received his teaching certificate and taught algebra at Franklin High School. This was his most beloved profession, and many students continued to recognize and reach out to him long after his retirement.

In his spare time, Jon enjoyed woodworking and building furniture; virtually everyone in the family owns a handmade piece created specifically for them. His other hobbies included genealogy, studying the Shroud of Turin, and gardening.

He was preceded in death by his parents Hubert and Pauline Cooper, sister, Melinda Calnan, and brother, Don Cooper. He is survived by his wife, Ana Cooper; his children, Jon Cooper and spouse, Dan Cearly & Stacey Cooper, Carlos Rodriguez, Leticia Rodriguez and partner Jayne Hyland, Christy Ballinger & husband Russell Ballinger, and Melissa Rodriguez; his nieces, Mary Lu & husband Hunter Layton and Kelly & husband Robin Falder; his nephew, Daniel and wife Ronelle Calnan; and his grandchildren, Lauren Ballinger, Leslie Lenckus, Chelsea Rodriguez, and Molly Rodriguez; and great-grandchildren, Grace Bonfield and Lilliana Lenckus.

Visitation will be held at Funeraria Del Angel Hillcrest West, 5054 Doniphan Drive, El Paso, TX 79932, on May 11, 2026, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm. A Rosary will follow at Funeraria Del Angel Hillcrest West, 5054 Doniphan Dr., El Paso, Texas 79932, on May 11, 2026, from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St Matthew Catholic Church, 400 W Sunset, El Paso, Texas 79922, on May 12, 2026, from 10:30 am to 11:30 am. A Committal Service will take place at Memory Gardens of the Valley, 4900 McNutt Rd, Santa Teresa, NM 88008, US, on May 12, 2026, from 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm.