Ouachita County Louisiana Archives Obituaries.....COOPER, RALPH JACKSON December 2, 2014 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Gina Brown rootsgirl36@gmail.com December 9, 2014, 6:15 am News Star World - December 06, 2014 RALPH JACKSON COOPER Ralph Jackson Cooper was born December 22, 1918, in Louisville, Ms., and passed away December 2, 2014, in Newellton, La. He is preceded in death by his wife Lillian Ethel Clark Cooper, parents Clyde Griffin Cooper and Mary Isabell Davis Cooper, brothers Jefferson Davis Cooper, Howard (Buddy) Cooper, sisters , Doris Cooper Martin, Kathryn Cooper Green, son Dr. Ralph Clark Cooper and son-in-law William G. Loftin. He is survived by daughters Marilyn Virginia (Snookie)Cooper Loftin, Margaret Shirley Cooper Napoli and husband Mike, Mary June Cooper Turner, daughter-in- law Jeanette Cooper Willbanks and husband Johnny, grandchildren, Dr. William Glover Loftin, Jr. and wife Sarah, Lillian Louise Loftin Greer and husband Daniel, Dr. James Clark Cooper and wife Alana, Clint Wayne Cooper and wife Shawn , Penny Lynn Cooper Wilkerson and husband Doug, Kendall Lane Cooper, Dr. Mark Cooper Napoli and wife Wendy, Mary Margaret Napoli, Matthew Clark Napoli and wife Nicole . Great grandchildren: Joseph Loftin, Luke Loftin, Jackson Greer, Mary Loftin Greer, Kamden Cooper, Coltan Cooper, Cooper Wilkerson, Raegan Cooper, Jake Napoli, Ella Napoli, Lila Napoli, Ivy Napoli, Eleanor Napoli and Abigail Napoli. When he was nine years old, his family moved to Tensas Parish to farm the rich soil of the Louisiana Delta. After the great flood of 1927, they moved back to Louisville. He married Lillian Ethel Clark in 1938, moved back to Newellton, where together they cleared timber-land to raise cotton and their children. Ralph loved farming, hunting, fishing and telling stories about his experiences. He stayed close to the Lord and to the land. He took great pride in leveled farm land, straight farm rows and the absence of Johnson grass. In one of the worst farm years ever on record, he managed to keep three of his children enrolled at Louisiana Tech. He always gave credit to his Lord. He once said, " I have been through fire and came out the other end. The older I get, the more I am aware of God's wonder and grace." He was a charter member of Flowers Landing Baptist Church where he served as a deacon. He joined First Baptist Church of Newellton in his later years, serving as a deacon. He was a US Army WWII veteran and stayed active in the American Legion. He served on numerous boards and won Tensas Parish Farmer-of-the Year, an impressive accomplishment for a man who started his farming career decades before with the little money in his pocket,only the possessions that would fit in his truck bed, a young bride and an infant. In his life, the accomplishments he valued most were his relationship with his Savior, strong ties to his community, and his close relationship to the family that loved him beyond measure. In the last ten years, he cherished time spent with his adored companion, Jewell Dean McClain Lee, who holds a special place in the hearts of his family. Ralph Cooper was many things to many people. He was a loving husband, doting father, kind brother, and faithful son. He worked the farmland that he loved tirelessly and was grateful for his flourishing crops. He enjoyed the company of his church family, who gave him great love and support all his life. To his 21 grandchildren and great grandchildren, he hung the moon. His family is grateful for his long life, and the immeasurable love and respect they have for him will endure. Services celebrating his life will be Saturday, December 6 at First Baptist Church of Newellton at 11:00AM, with Dr. Scott Byrd, Rev. Don Thornton and Br. Larry Foster officiating. Family will receive friends at 10:00 AM, before the service. The burial will take place at Legion Memorial Cemetery in Newellton under the direction of Crothers-Glenwood Funeral Home. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers and honorary pallbearers will be his fellow deacons of Newellton First Baptist Church. Crothers-Glenwood Funeral Home Tallulah, LA File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/ouachita/obits/c/cooper3433nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/lafiles/ File size: 4.5 Kb