Victor Kenneth Cooper, Sr., 94, passed away Friday, October 11, 2013. A celebration of his life will be 11:30 am Monday, October 14, 2013 at First Baptist Church, Waco with Dr. Matt Snowden and Dr. Randall Perry officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service Monday from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Burial with military honors will follow at Oakwood Cemetery.
Victor was born the 4th of 8 children, on June 2, 1919, in Harrison County, Missouri, to Sarah Celestine (Sellie) Kincaide and John Calvin (Vin) Cooper. At the age of two, he moved with his family to Kiowa County, Oklahoma where he grew up on a farm and took an active part in the Future Farmers of America organization. He graduated from Hobart High School, Hobart Oklahoma, in 1937 and entered Oklahoma A&M College (now Oklahoma State Univ.) in Stillwater, Oklahoma in September of that same year.
He played end on the football team and later enjoyed officiating for schools and church sponsored teams. He graduated in 1942 with a BS in Hotel Administration and was the first to receive a degree in the field. Victor met his future wife, Donnie Audrey Kite, of Hollis, Oklahoma, while they were both students at A&M. They were active in the Baptist Student Union where he served as president. Following graduation and two weeks before he was deployed to military service in World War II, Victor and Donnie were married on October 4, 1942. Their marriage was blessed with four children.
Victor entered the U.S. Army Officers' Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia in October 1942 and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in January 1943. He was assigned to the 35th Infantry Division, 134 th Regiment, 2nd Battalion, Company E as a platoon leader and was part of the second wave of the Allied Invasion of France that landed on Omaha Beach, Normandy in July, 1944. As a Rifle Company Commander, Victor led his company to the Elbe River in Germany and was within 50 miles of Berlin, where contact was made with the Russian Army at the end of the war. Victor was awarded the Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, and four major battle medals for service in Europe. He was honorably discharged from active duty in December, 1945 with the rank of Captain.
After returning home, Victor worked for Oklahoma A&M and Oklahoma Tech from 1946-1948. He surrendered to the ministry, was ordained in 1948 and later enrolled in Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Ft. Worth, TX where he received a Masters of Ministry degree in Religious Education with a major in Administration in 1956.
At that time, his military commission was transferred from Infantry to Chaplaincy. He served for several years as Chaplain of the 143 Infantry Regiment of the 36th Infantry Division of the Texas National Guard.
In the years following seminary, Victor served as Minister of Education at the First
Baptist Churches in Springfield, Missouri, Miami, Oklahoma, Gaston Avenue Baptist
Church, Dallas and the First Baptist Churches of Waco and Austin.
From 1965-1979 he was employed by Baylor University as an Assistant Director of Development in the Dallas / Fort Worth metroplex area. During that time, Victor earned licenses in securities, insurance and real estate as well as a Texas Basic Certificate in Gerontology. He loved to write and drafted a detailed historic account of his life experience which included the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl as well as his military experiences. He wrote many articles for Southern Baptist publications and a number of Sunday School and Training Enlargement Campaigns in Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. In Dallas, he was self-employed for several years and was president of the North Dallas Park Cities Kiwanis Club.
Victor and Donnie returned to Waco in 1986 where he worked with his son, Ken, a local homebuilder. At First Baptist Church, Waco, he was a member of the Board of Deacons, Director of an Adult Sunday School Department, member of the Missions Committee and Director of Library Services. He was an avid reader and particularly enjoyed researching the church's history and its unique historical association with Baylor University and the City of Waco.
Christian ministry was the focus of his life and in 1995, the Coopers were honored by their church as Senior Couple of the Year. In addition, the Coopers were long time members of the Mission Service Corps of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
Victor served as a member of the Advisory Board of the Heart of Texas Council of
Governments Agency on Aging. For several years, he enjoyed annual visits with the
students of Vanguard Academy history classes where he talked to them about his war experiences. In addition, he was a life member of the Waco Masonic Lodge, Number 92 and was a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason.
In 1986, Victor and Donnie traveled to England and Europe to visit many of the locations where he had served during World War I]. Once again, in 2001, Victor along with his sons Randy and Ken, grandsons Jason and Weston and his grandson-in-law Todd Gibson, returned to France to re-trace the route taken by Victor's unit during the war.
Victor was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, Helen Cooper Nardi and Colleen
Cooper and brothers, Boyd, Floyd, Lester and Glen Cooper.
Survivors include his wife of 71 years, Donnie and their four children: two daughters, Marilyn Cooper Eichelberger and husband, Roland of Waco, Sarah Cooper Reavis Campbell and husband, Ray of Arlington, TX; two sons, Randall (Randy) Cooper of Kansas City, MO and Ken Cooper and wife, Debbie of Waco; 13 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren as well as his sister, Ramona Barrett of San Clemente, California.
Waco Tribune-Herald: 10/12/2013...S13
Victor was born the 4th of 8 children, on June 2, 1919, in Harrison County, Missouri, to Sarah Celestine (Sellie) Kincaide and John Calvin (Vin) Cooper. At the age of two, he moved with his family to Kiowa County, Oklahoma where he grew up on a farm and took an active part in the Future Farmers of America organization. He graduated from Hobart High School, Hobart Oklahoma, in 1937 and entered Oklahoma A&M College (now Oklahoma State Univ.) in Stillwater, Oklahoma in September of that same year.
He played end on the football team and later enjoyed officiating for schools and church sponsored teams. He graduated in 1942 with a BS in Hotel Administration and was the first to receive a degree in the field. Victor met his future wife, Donnie Audrey Kite, of Hollis, Oklahoma, while they were both students at A&M. They were active in the Baptist Student Union where he served as president. Following graduation and two weeks before he was deployed to military service in World War II, Victor and Donnie were married on October 4, 1942. Their marriage was blessed with four children.
Victor entered the U.S. Army Officers' Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia in October 1942 and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in January 1943. He was assigned to the 35th Infantry Division, 134 th Regiment, 2nd Battalion, Company E as a platoon leader and was part of the second wave of the Allied Invasion of France that landed on Omaha Beach, Normandy in July, 1944. As a Rifle Company Commander, Victor led his company to the Elbe River in Germany and was within 50 miles of Berlin, where contact was made with the Russian Army at the end of the war. Victor was awarded the Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, and four major battle medals for service in Europe. He was honorably discharged from active duty in December, 1945 with the rank of Captain.
After returning home, Victor worked for Oklahoma A&M and Oklahoma Tech from 1946-1948. He surrendered to the ministry, was ordained in 1948 and later enrolled in Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Ft. Worth, TX where he received a Masters of Ministry degree in Religious Education with a major in Administration in 1956.
At that time, his military commission was transferred from Infantry to Chaplaincy. He served for several years as Chaplain of the 143 Infantry Regiment of the 36th Infantry Division of the Texas National Guard.
In the years following seminary, Victor served as Minister of Education at the First
Baptist Churches in Springfield, Missouri, Miami, Oklahoma, Gaston Avenue Baptist
Church, Dallas and the First Baptist Churches of Waco and Austin.
From 1965-1979 he was employed by Baylor University as an Assistant Director of Development in the Dallas / Fort Worth metroplex area. During that time, Victor earned licenses in securities, insurance and real estate as well as a Texas Basic Certificate in Gerontology. He loved to write and drafted a detailed historic account of his life experience which included the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl as well as his military experiences. He wrote many articles for Southern Baptist publications and a number of Sunday School and Training Enlargement Campaigns in Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. In Dallas, he was self-employed for several years and was president of the North Dallas Park Cities Kiwanis Club.
Victor and Donnie returned to Waco in 1986 where he worked with his son, Ken, a local homebuilder. At First Baptist Church, Waco, he was a member of the Board of Deacons, Director of an Adult Sunday School Department, member of the Missions Committee and Director of Library Services. He was an avid reader and particularly enjoyed researching the church's history and its unique historical association with Baylor University and the City of Waco.
Christian ministry was the focus of his life and in 1995, the Coopers were honored by their church as Senior Couple of the Year. In addition, the Coopers were long time members of the Mission Service Corps of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
Victor served as a member of the Advisory Board of the Heart of Texas Council of
Governments Agency on Aging. For several years, he enjoyed annual visits with the
students of Vanguard Academy history classes where he talked to them about his war experiences. In addition, he was a life member of the Waco Masonic Lodge, Number 92 and was a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason.
In 1986, Victor and Donnie traveled to England and Europe to visit many of the locations where he had served during World War I]. Once again, in 2001, Victor along with his sons Randy and Ken, grandsons Jason and Weston and his grandson-in-law Todd Gibson, returned to France to re-trace the route taken by Victor's unit during the war.
Victor was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, Helen Cooper Nardi and Colleen
Cooper and brothers, Boyd, Floyd, Lester and Glen Cooper.
Survivors include his wife of 71 years, Donnie and their four children: two daughters, Marilyn Cooper Eichelberger and husband, Roland of Waco, Sarah Cooper Reavis Campbell and husband, Ray of Arlington, TX; two sons, Randall (Randy) Cooper of Kansas City, MO and Ken Cooper and wife, Debbie of Waco; 13 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren as well as his sister, Ramona Barrett of San Clemente, California.
Waco Tribune-Herald: 10/12/2013...S13
Victor Kenneth Cooper, Sr., 94, passed away Friday, October 11, 2013. A celebration of his life will be 11:30 am Monday, October 14, 2013 at First Baptist Church, Waco with Dr. Matt Snowden and Dr. Randall Perry officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service Monday from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Burial with military honors will follow at Oakwood Cemetery.
Victor was born the 4th of 8 children, on June 2, 1919, in Harrison County, Missouri, to Sarah Celestine (Sellie) Kincaide and John Calvin (Vin) Cooper. At the age of two, he moved with his family to Kiowa County, Oklahoma where he grew up on a farm and took an active part in the Future Farmers of America organization. He graduated from Hobart High School, Hobart Oklahoma, in 1937 and entered Oklahoma A&M College (now Oklahoma State Univ.) in Stillwater, Oklahoma in September of that same year.
He played end on the football team and later enjoyed officiating for schools and church sponsored teams. He graduated in 1942 with a BS in Hotel Administration and was the first to receive a degree in the field. Victor met his future wife, Donnie Audrey Kite, of Hollis, Oklahoma, while they were both students at A&M. They were active in the Baptist Student Union where he served as president. Following graduation and two weeks before he was deployed to military service in World War II, Victor and Donnie were married on October 4, 1942. Their marriage was blessed with four children.
Victor entered the U.S. Army Officers' Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia in October 1942 and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in January 1943. He was assigned to the 35th Infantry Division, 134 th Regiment, 2nd Battalion, Company E as a platoon leader and was part of the second wave of the Allied Invasion of France that landed on Omaha Beach, Normandy in July, 1944. As a Rifle Company Commander, Victor led his company to the Elbe River in Germany and was within 50 miles of Berlin, where contact was made with the Russian Army at the end of the war. Victor was awarded the Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, and four major battle medals for service in Europe. He was honorably discharged from active duty in December, 1945 with the rank of Captain.
After returning home, Victor worked for Oklahoma A&M and Oklahoma Tech from 1946-1948. He surrendered to the ministry, was ordained in 1948 and later enrolled in Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Ft. Worth, TX where he received a Masters of Ministry degree in Religious Education with a major in Administration in 1956.
At that time, his military commission was transferred from Infantry to Chaplaincy. He served for several years as Chaplain of the 143 Infantry Regiment of the 36th Infantry Division of the Texas National Guard.
In the years following seminary, Victor served as Minister of Education at the First
Baptist Churches in Springfield, Missouri, Miami, Oklahoma, Gaston Avenue Baptist
Church, Dallas and the First Baptist Churches of Waco and Austin.
From 1965-1979 he was employed by Baylor University as an Assistant Director of Development in the Dallas / Fort Worth metroplex area. During that time, Victor earned licenses in securities, insurance and real estate as well as a Texas Basic Certificate in Gerontology. He loved to write and drafted a detailed historic account of his life experience which included the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl as well as his military experiences. He wrote many articles for Southern Baptist publications and a number of Sunday School and Training Enlargement Campaigns in Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. In Dallas, he was self-employed for several years and was president of the North Dallas Park Cities Kiwanis Club.
Victor and Donnie returned to Waco in 1986 where he worked with his son, Ken, a local homebuilder. At First Baptist Church, Waco, he was a member of the Board of Deacons, Director of an Adult Sunday School Department, member of the Missions Committee and Director of Library Services. He was an avid reader and particularly enjoyed researching the church's history and its unique historical association with Baylor University and the City of Waco.
Christian ministry was the focus of his life and in 1995, the Coopers were honored by their church as Senior Couple of the Year. In addition, the Coopers were long time members of the Mission Service Corps of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
Victor served as a member of the Advisory Board of the Heart of Texas Council of
Governments Agency on Aging. For several years, he enjoyed annual visits with the
students of Vanguard Academy history classes where he talked to them about his war experiences. In addition, he was a life member of the Waco Masonic Lodge, Number 92 and was a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason.
In 1986, Victor and Donnie traveled to England and Europe to visit many of the locations where he had served during World War I]. Once again, in 2001, Victor along with his sons Randy and Ken, grandsons Jason and Weston and his grandson-in-law Todd Gibson, returned to France to re-trace the route taken by Victor's unit during the war.
Victor was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, Helen Cooper Nardi and Colleen
Cooper and brothers, Boyd, Floyd, Lester and Glen Cooper.
Survivors include his wife of 71 years, Donnie and their four children: two daughters, Marilyn Cooper Eichelberger and husband, Roland of Waco, Sarah Cooper Reavis Campbell and husband, Ray of Arlington, TX; two sons, Randall (Randy) Cooper of Kansas City, MO and Ken Cooper and wife, Debbie of Waco; 13 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren as well as his sister, Ramona Barrett of San Clemente, California.
Waco Tribune-Herald: 10/12/2013...S13
Victor was born the 4th of 8 children, on June 2, 1919, in Harrison County, Missouri, to Sarah Celestine (Sellie) Kincaide and John Calvin (Vin) Cooper. At the age of two, he moved with his family to Kiowa County, Oklahoma where he grew up on a farm and took an active part in the Future Farmers of America organization. He graduated from Hobart High School, Hobart Oklahoma, in 1937 and entered Oklahoma A&M College (now Oklahoma State Univ.) in Stillwater, Oklahoma in September of that same year.
He played end on the football team and later enjoyed officiating for schools and church sponsored teams. He graduated in 1942 with a BS in Hotel Administration and was the first to receive a degree in the field. Victor met his future wife, Donnie Audrey Kite, of Hollis, Oklahoma, while they were both students at A&M. They were active in the Baptist Student Union where he served as president. Following graduation and two weeks before he was deployed to military service in World War II, Victor and Donnie were married on October 4, 1942. Their marriage was blessed with four children.
Victor entered the U.S. Army Officers' Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia in October 1942 and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in January 1943. He was assigned to the 35th Infantry Division, 134 th Regiment, 2nd Battalion, Company E as a platoon leader and was part of the second wave of the Allied Invasion of France that landed on Omaha Beach, Normandy in July, 1944. As a Rifle Company Commander, Victor led his company to the Elbe River in Germany and was within 50 miles of Berlin, where contact was made with the Russian Army at the end of the war. Victor was awarded the Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, and four major battle medals for service in Europe. He was honorably discharged from active duty in December, 1945 with the rank of Captain.
After returning home, Victor worked for Oklahoma A&M and Oklahoma Tech from 1946-1948. He surrendered to the ministry, was ordained in 1948 and later enrolled in Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Ft. Worth, TX where he received a Masters of Ministry degree in Religious Education with a major in Administration in 1956.
At that time, his military commission was transferred from Infantry to Chaplaincy. He served for several years as Chaplain of the 143 Infantry Regiment of the 36th Infantry Division of the Texas National Guard.
In the years following seminary, Victor served as Minister of Education at the First
Baptist Churches in Springfield, Missouri, Miami, Oklahoma, Gaston Avenue Baptist
Church, Dallas and the First Baptist Churches of Waco and Austin.
From 1965-1979 he was employed by Baylor University as an Assistant Director of Development in the Dallas / Fort Worth metroplex area. During that time, Victor earned licenses in securities, insurance and real estate as well as a Texas Basic Certificate in Gerontology. He loved to write and drafted a detailed historic account of his life experience which included the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl as well as his military experiences. He wrote many articles for Southern Baptist publications and a number of Sunday School and Training Enlargement Campaigns in Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. In Dallas, he was self-employed for several years and was president of the North Dallas Park Cities Kiwanis Club.
Victor and Donnie returned to Waco in 1986 where he worked with his son, Ken, a local homebuilder. At First Baptist Church, Waco, he was a member of the Board of Deacons, Director of an Adult Sunday School Department, member of the Missions Committee and Director of Library Services. He was an avid reader and particularly enjoyed researching the church's history and its unique historical association with Baylor University and the City of Waco.
Christian ministry was the focus of his life and in 1995, the Coopers were honored by their church as Senior Couple of the Year. In addition, the Coopers were long time members of the Mission Service Corps of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
Victor served as a member of the Advisory Board of the Heart of Texas Council of
Governments Agency on Aging. For several years, he enjoyed annual visits with the
students of Vanguard Academy history classes where he talked to them about his war experiences. In addition, he was a life member of the Waco Masonic Lodge, Number 92 and was a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason.
In 1986, Victor and Donnie traveled to England and Europe to visit many of the locations where he had served during World War I]. Once again, in 2001, Victor along with his sons Randy and Ken, grandsons Jason and Weston and his grandson-in-law Todd Gibson, returned to France to re-trace the route taken by Victor's unit during the war.
Victor was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, Helen Cooper Nardi and Colleen
Cooper and brothers, Boyd, Floyd, Lester and Glen Cooper.
Survivors include his wife of 71 years, Donnie and their four children: two daughters, Marilyn Cooper Eichelberger and husband, Roland of Waco, Sarah Cooper Reavis Campbell and husband, Ray of Arlington, TX; two sons, Randall (Randy) Cooper of Kansas City, MO and Ken Cooper and wife, Debbie of Waco; 13 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren as well as his sister, Ramona Barrett of San Clemente, California.
Waco Tribune-Herald: 10/12/2013...S13
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