Wilma Louise Cooper was born on October 31, 1920, in Whiting, Kansas. She was one of the middle children of six born to John Henry and Mary Eunice (Fisher) Davidson. Her siblings are Francis, Irene, Doris, Emmaline, and Lawrence Lee "Corky." Wilma grew up in rural Kansas, the Whiting and Horton area before moving to Ottawa in 1955.

Wilma married Boyd John Cooper on June 22, 1941, in Horton, Kansas. A chance meeting brought them together. Boyd had gotten his car stuck in a snow bank, when Wilma and her date were passing by. They offered him a ride, and in the small car, Wilma ended up sitting on Boyd's lap the whole time. From that time on, a great love blossomed, and through 61 years they stayed together.

Wilma had one beloved daughter, Joyce Elaine Pennala, married to Eric Pennala. She also had four wonderful grandsons, Bret (wife Gina), Barry, Blaine, and Bart Baldwin; a great grandson, Logan Stricker; and a deceased granddaughter-in-law, Gina Stricker.

Wilma graduated from high school in 1938 in Atchison County, Kansas. She worked as a bookkeeper at the Ottawa Medical Clinic for 21 years before retiring in 1983. She also taught in a one-room schoolhouse in Atchison, Kansas, for five years before going on to work four years each with Gleaners' Manufacturing and the Gas Service Company of Independence, Missouri.

Wilma was a member of First Christian Church of Ottawa, Modern Homemakers, an Honorary Life Member of the Medical Assistant's Society of Kansas, and a former member of the Intersé Club of Ottawa.
Wilma was a kind, loving, and artistic person. She dearly loved visiting with her family and friends. She also enjoyed ceramics, oil painting, sewing, crocheting, and other crafts. She won a number of ribbons at the County Fair for her paintings. Wilma loved to read, and she also liked watching football on TV.

Wilma entered eternity peacefully on January 22, 2003, only a few months after her beloved husband. A person of quiet faith, she would want her family to celebrate her life and rejoice that she is now reunited with Boyd in heaven.

SERVICES: Funeral services will be held from the Dengel & Son Mortuary 2:00 p.m. Saturday, January 25, 2003.

OFFICIATING CLERGY: Pastor Steven C. Van Ostran.

IN STATE: Mrs. Cooper will lie in state at the Dengel & Son Mortuary after 5:00 p.m. Thursday to the service hour, where the family will meet with friends 7:00 to 8:00 Friday evening.

CEMETERY: Highland Cemetery, Ottawa, Kansas.

MEMORIALS: The family suggest memorial contributions to Bea Martin Peck Animal Shelter, c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.