Walter Arthur Cooper, Jr, 92, died Wednesday, October 25 at The Sharon at South Park. He was born November 14, 1930, in Orangeburg, SC, first son of the late, Walter Arthur Cooper, Sr. and Isabelle Culler Cooper.
He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Joy Cooper, and three sons: Dr. Walter Arthur (Artie) Cooper III (Sabrina), James H. Cooper (Rebecca) and John Cooper. Six grandchildren, Natalie Sneed, Dr. Courtney Hechler, Mitchell Cooper, Matthew Cooper, Graham Cooper, Prentiss Cooper. Great-grandchildren Alex Keipper, Lewis and Madelyn Hechler, sister Carolyn Copeland (Don) and brother Robert W. Cooper (Judy) and many nephews and cousins.
Walter was a 1951 graduate of The Citadel. He proudly served in the US Army from 1951 to 1953. In Korea he was an infantry platoon leader. Although wounded in Korea on Pork Chop Hill two weeks before the fighting ceased, he was always an Army man in his heart. He was decorated with the Combat Infantry Badge, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, US Korean Service Medal, United Nations Medal, and Republic of Korea Presidential Service Medal.
He initially went into hospital administration in 1953 training at Presbyterian Hospital. Following this he was employed by The Travelers Ins. Co. for 35 years. He retired in 1993 as Claim Manager and the following years he was an adventurous world traveler. Above all else he was a man of faith and loved his family above all things. He served many years on church councils in the towns where he lived. He was a youth advisor, Men’s Sunday School teacher, Men’s Brotherhood, and usher. He loved golf and playing at Cedarwood and Ocean Isle Beach with his sons. He had a great idea to have a Choose and Cut your own Christmas tree business in Mooresville on his father-in-law’s farm. This was a family effort for many years with many funny stories.
The service of celebration is November 12 at 3:00 pm at St. Lukes Lutheran Church, 3200 Park Road, Charlotte. The family will receive friends after the service in the Parish Hall. Memorials may be made in remembrance of Walter to St. Lukes Lutheran Church, PO Box 11063, Charlotte, NC 28220-1063; Residence Assistance, The Sharon at South Park 5100 Sharon Road Charlotte, NC 28210; The Citadel Foundation, 171 Moultrie St., Charleston, SC 29409, Hospice, or the charity of choice.
Online Condolences may be made at www.HankinsandWhittington.com