Blythe Ann Cooper

Blythe Ann Cooper left this earth to enter her eternal home on January 6, 2026, leaving behind a generous legacy of love. She was the biggest personality in any room, the loudest laugh in the crowd, the safest place to land, and the steady presence so many leaned on without hesitation. Selfless, supportive, joyful, sensitive, and endlessly positive, she was the matriarch of her family in every sense of the word.

Blythe Ann often joked that she only had children so she could one day be a grandmother, and she lived that truth with delight. She adored her grandchildren, celebrating each of them with deep pride and boundless affection. Yet her mothering spirit embraced so many lives even beyond her own family. She was a mother figure to countless children, teens, young adults, and families who found in her a constant source of unconditional love and encouragement.

Born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, Blythe Ann moved to Columbus, Ohio, as a junior in high school in 1970 when her father, Francis Hitch, became pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church, where he served faithfully until his retirement in 1992. Her mother, Benny Blythe (Linder) Hitch, dedicated her career to education, teaching at West Broad Elementary and other Columbus Public Schools. Blythe Ann graduated from West High School in 1972 and went on to graduate from Judson College in 1975.

Her life was a beautiful tapestry of service, faith, music, and care for others. Blythe Ann held multiple church music minister positions throughout Columbus, sharing her gifts and helping others find their voices. She served as a substitute teacher in the Jonathan Alder School District and dedicated herself to leadership within the American Baptist Churches of Ohio and on several boards for ABC USA.

From 1998 to 2005, Blythe Ann served as Director of Programming for Green Lake Conference Center in Wisconsin, a role that reflected her spiritual gift of bringing people together to connect and make life-long memories. Also central to her life’s work was her role as Director of Myti-Oaks Day Camp at the Christian Conference Center in Columbus, a position she held from 1980 to 2018. For nearly four decades, she shaped generations of campers and staff. To many, Myti-Oaks was not just a camp. It was home because Blythe Ann made it so.

Beyond her formal roles, Blythe Ann was a caterer, a party planner extraordinaire, a choir director, a minister, a counselor, and a life coach. She listened deeply, celebrated loudly, and loved without limits. Her joy was contagious, her faith unwavering, and her impact eternal.

Blythe Ann is survived by her husband, Mark William Cooper; her sons, Marc Aaron (Laura) Cooper and Chad William (Amanda) Cooper; and her grandchildren: Liliana Elizabeth Cooper (20), Joseph Aaron Cooper (14), Landon Bryce Somosko (19), Preston Montgomery Cooper (15), Cannon Brodie Cooper (8), and Hudson Graham Cooper (5). Also surviving are brothers Bryan (Terry) Hitch, Neal (Deneen) Hitch, and Jamie (Chris) Sintz, and their families

She was preceded in death by her father, Francis Marion Hitch III; her mother, Benny Blythe (Linder) Hitch; and her sister, Linda Jo (Hitch) Mahone.

A Celebration of her remarkable life will be held on Saturday, February 7, 2026. Visitation will be from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM with the service to follow at 3:30 PM at the Hillcrest Baptist Church,

2480 West Broad St., Columbus, Ohio 43204.