PART OF THE GREATEST GENERATION
Full Colonel USMC
Colonel Carl Cooper Retired, 101, peacefully ended a long, well-lived life at his Vestavia Hills home August 29, 2021. He was born March 18, 1920 on one of the first peach tree farms in Clanton Alabama.
He and the other 11 family members survived the deadly March 21st, 1932 tornado.
Carl developed several traits early on that became constant in his life. He had a thirst for knowledge that took him from senior class president to Howard College (Samford) on a football scholarship where he met his wife, James Anna Rutledge from Oakman.
He was majoring in Biology when Pearl Harbor was attacked and immediately enlisted in the Marine Corps. He trained for war and left California for the Battle of Guadalcanal and then on April 1, 1945, he led in the invasion of Okinawa, the bloodiest battle in the Pacific Theatre. He left Okinawa on July 4, 1945, for Guam to prepare for the invasion of Japan, which was avoided by President Truman.
When he returned from WWII he completed his Bachelor's Degree at Howard College, coached and taught at Perry County high school in Marion Alabama.
He was called back to active duty to serve his country during the Korean War.
Returning to the US, he earned his Master's Degree from Vanderbilt's Peabody College and taught at insert school and was principal at Carbon Hill High School. He was recruited to help organize the Mountain Brook City School System and was named the first principal of Mountain Brook JR High School. He earned his PhD in Education from the University of Alabama while at Mountain Brook.
He was then called back from the Marine Reserves a third time to serve during the Vietnam War.
Before he retired from the Marine Corps on April 1, 1980, he was appointed Regional Director of the Selective Service System. His work ethic carried him to a significant role as Disaster Coordinator for FEMA for another decade of service.
Colonel Cooper was decorated with the prestigious Legion of Merit Military Award, Asiatic Pacific Medal with Star, Presidential Unit Citation and more than a dozen additional medals in recognition of his exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding military service.
Colonel Cooper was proceeded in death by his wife, James Anna "Jimmie" Rutledge Cooper (1924-2003); son, James Carl Cooper USMC (1945-1972); daughter, Charlotte Cooper Fant (1947-2006); parents, John Wiley Cooper (1887-1968) and Mattie Hawkins Cooper (1889-1979); all nine of his siblings and their spouses, Welby Cooper (1910-1994), Louetta Cooper Welch (1915-2008), William Emanuel Cooper (1912-1996), Louetta Cooper Welch (1915-2008), Callie Myrtis Cooper Lambert (1917-2009), Robert Mayo "Bob" Cooper (1923-2013), Laura Mae Cooper Hammock (1925-2012) and Ester Lee Cooper Blackwell (1929-2014).
He is survived by his grandchildren, William S. Fant III (Dava), John C. Fant, Christopher Jason Fant (Tara) and Kaleigh (Mandy) Fant (Todd), 16 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren. Col. Cooper loved the Lord, his family, his country and the Marine Corps. On August 29, 2021 at 12:36 AM he reported for his final duty saluting his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Visitation will be held Friday, September 3 from 9-11AM followed by Celebration of Life at Shades Mountain Baptist Church, 2017 Columbian Road, Vestavia Hills, Alabama 35216.
Full Military Honors following the services at Elmwood Cemetery.
Interview By WBRC Staff Birmingham, Alabama
Published: Aug. 30, 2021 at 2:37 PM CDT
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - Colonel Carl Cooper, Retired, U.S. Marines Corps, died Sunday, August 29. 2021. He was 101 years old. He served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
The seventh of ten children, Colonel Cooper was the only one of his siblings to go to college. He was studying biology and on his way to medical school when his life and the world changed.
"The big bomb dropped, and World War II came along. I joined the Marine Corps April 1, 1942."
He added, "I raised my right hand and said, 'I do.'"
With those two words, Colonel Cooper pledged his lifetime in service to his country.
"I knew I was going to get some training and get some combat, that was the biggest thing, but I had no idea how it would turn out," said Colonel Cooper. "But, the Good Lord had His way of handling things."
From Birmingham, Alabama., then Private Cooper was sent to basic training at Parris Island, South Carolina. After boot camp, he went to Officer Candidates School in Quantico, Virginia. He was sent west to California for more training and then a little further.
In March of 2021 Col. Cooper celebrated his 101st birthday with a drive-by celebration at his church.
Full Colonel USMC
Colonel Carl Cooper Retired, 101, peacefully ended a long, well-lived life at his Vestavia Hills home August 29, 2021. He was born March 18, 1920 on one of the first peach tree farms in Clanton Alabama.
He and the other 11 family members survived the deadly March 21st, 1932 tornado.
Carl developed several traits early on that became constant in his life. He had a thirst for knowledge that took him from senior class president to Howard College (Samford) on a football scholarship where he met his wife, James Anna Rutledge from Oakman.
He was majoring in Biology when Pearl Harbor was attacked and immediately enlisted in the Marine Corps. He trained for war and left California for the Battle of Guadalcanal and then on April 1, 1945, he led in the invasion of Okinawa, the bloodiest battle in the Pacific Theatre. He left Okinawa on July 4, 1945, for Guam to prepare for the invasion of Japan, which was avoided by President Truman.
When he returned from WWII he completed his Bachelor's Degree at Howard College, coached and taught at Perry County high school in Marion Alabama.
He was called back to active duty to serve his country during the Korean War.
Returning to the US, he earned his Master's Degree from Vanderbilt's Peabody College and taught at insert school and was principal at Carbon Hill High School. He was recruited to help organize the Mountain Brook City School System and was named the first principal of Mountain Brook JR High School. He earned his PhD in Education from the University of Alabama while at Mountain Brook.
He was then called back from the Marine Reserves a third time to serve during the Vietnam War.
Before he retired from the Marine Corps on April 1, 1980, he was appointed Regional Director of the Selective Service System. His work ethic carried him to a significant role as Disaster Coordinator for FEMA for another decade of service.
Colonel Cooper was decorated with the prestigious Legion of Merit Military Award, Asiatic Pacific Medal with Star, Presidential Unit Citation and more than a dozen additional medals in recognition of his exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding military service.
Colonel Cooper was proceeded in death by his wife, James Anna "Jimmie" Rutledge Cooper (1924-2003); son, James Carl Cooper USMC (1945-1972); daughter, Charlotte Cooper Fant (1947-2006); parents, John Wiley Cooper (1887-1968) and Mattie Hawkins Cooper (1889-1979); all nine of his siblings and their spouses, Welby Cooper (1910-1994), Louetta Cooper Welch (1915-2008), William Emanuel Cooper (1912-1996), Louetta Cooper Welch (1915-2008), Callie Myrtis Cooper Lambert (1917-2009), Robert Mayo "Bob" Cooper (1923-2013), Laura Mae Cooper Hammock (1925-2012) and Ester Lee Cooper Blackwell (1929-2014).
He is survived by his grandchildren, William S. Fant III (Dava), John C. Fant, Christopher Jason Fant (Tara) and Kaleigh (Mandy) Fant (Todd), 16 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren. Col. Cooper loved the Lord, his family, his country and the Marine Corps. On August 29, 2021 at 12:36 AM he reported for his final duty saluting his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Visitation will be held Friday, September 3 from 9-11AM followed by Celebration of Life at Shades Mountain Baptist Church, 2017 Columbian Road, Vestavia Hills, Alabama 35216.
Full Military Honors following the services at Elmwood Cemetery.
Interview By WBRC Staff Birmingham, Alabama
Published: Aug. 30, 2021 at 2:37 PM CDT
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - Colonel Carl Cooper, Retired, U.S. Marines Corps, died Sunday, August 29. 2021. He was 101 years old. He served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
The seventh of ten children, Colonel Cooper was the only one of his siblings to go to college. He was studying biology and on his way to medical school when his life and the world changed.
"The big bomb dropped, and World War II came along. I joined the Marine Corps April 1, 1942."
He added, "I raised my right hand and said, 'I do.'"
With those two words, Colonel Cooper pledged his lifetime in service to his country.
"I knew I was going to get some training and get some combat, that was the biggest thing, but I had no idea how it would turn out," said Colonel Cooper. "But, the Good Lord had His way of handling things."
From Birmingham, Alabama., then Private Cooper was sent to basic training at Parris Island, South Carolina. After boot camp, he went to Officer Candidates School in Quantico, Virginia. He was sent west to California for more training and then a little further.
In March of 2021 Col. Cooper celebrated his 101st birthday with a drive-by celebration at his church.
PART OF THE GREATEST GENERATION
Full Colonel USMC
Colonel Carl Cooper Retired, 101, peacefully ended a long, well-lived life at his Vestavia Hills home August 29, 2021. He was born March 18, 1920 on one of the first peach tree farms in Clanton Alabama.
He and the other 11 family members survived the deadly March 21st, 1932 tornado.
Carl developed several traits early on that became constant in his life. He had a thirst for knowledge that took him from senior class president to Howard College (Samford) on a football scholarship where he met his wife, James Anna Rutledge from Oakman.
He was majoring in Biology when Pearl Harbor was attacked and immediately enlisted in the Marine Corps. He trained for war and left California for the Battle of Guadalcanal and then on April 1, 1945, he led in the invasion of Okinawa, the bloodiest battle in the Pacific Theatre. He left Okinawa on July 4, 1945, for Guam to prepare for the invasion of Japan, which was avoided by President Truman.
When he returned from WWII he completed his Bachelor's Degree at Howard College, coached and taught at Perry County high school in Marion Alabama.
He was called back to active duty to serve his country during the Korean War.
Returning to the US, he earned his Master's Degree from Vanderbilt's Peabody College and taught at insert school and was principal at Carbon Hill High School. He was recruited to help organize the Mountain Brook City School System and was named the first principal of Mountain Brook JR High School. He earned his PhD in Education from the University of Alabama while at Mountain Brook.
He was then called back from the Marine Reserves a third time to serve during the Vietnam War.
Before he retired from the Marine Corps on April 1, 1980, he was appointed Regional Director of the Selective Service System. His work ethic carried him to a significant role as Disaster Coordinator for FEMA for another decade of service.
Colonel Cooper was decorated with the prestigious Legion of Merit Military Award, Asiatic Pacific Medal with Star, Presidential Unit Citation and more than a dozen additional medals in recognition of his exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding military service.
Colonel Cooper was proceeded in death by his wife, James Anna "Jimmie" Rutledge Cooper (1924-2003); son, James Carl Cooper USMC (1945-1972); daughter, Charlotte Cooper Fant (1947-2006); parents, John Wiley Cooper (1887-1968) and Mattie Hawkins Cooper (1889-1979); all nine of his siblings and their spouses, Welby Cooper (1910-1994), Louetta Cooper Welch (1915-2008), William Emanuel Cooper (1912-1996), Louetta Cooper Welch (1915-2008), Callie Myrtis Cooper Lambert (1917-2009), Robert Mayo "Bob" Cooper (1923-2013), Laura Mae Cooper Hammock (1925-2012) and Ester Lee Cooper Blackwell (1929-2014).
He is survived by his grandchildren, William S. Fant III (Dava), John C. Fant, Christopher Jason Fant (Tara) and Kaleigh (Mandy) Fant (Todd), 16 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren. Col. Cooper loved the Lord, his family, his country and the Marine Corps. On August 29, 2021 at 12:36 AM he reported for his final duty saluting his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Visitation will be held Friday, September 3 from 9-11AM followed by Celebration of Life at Shades Mountain Baptist Church, 2017 Columbian Road, Vestavia Hills, Alabama 35216.
Full Military Honors following the services at Elmwood Cemetery.
Interview By WBRC Staff Birmingham, Alabama
Published: Aug. 30, 2021 at 2:37 PM CDT
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - Colonel Carl Cooper, Retired, U.S. Marines Corps, died Sunday, August 29. 2021. He was 101 years old. He served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
The seventh of ten children, Colonel Cooper was the only one of his siblings to go to college. He was studying biology and on his way to medical school when his life and the world changed.
"The big bomb dropped, and World War II came along. I joined the Marine Corps April 1, 1942."
He added, "I raised my right hand and said, 'I do.'"
With those two words, Colonel Cooper pledged his lifetime in service to his country.
"I knew I was going to get some training and get some combat, that was the biggest thing, but I had no idea how it would turn out," said Colonel Cooper. "But, the Good Lord had His way of handling things."
From Birmingham, Alabama., then Private Cooper was sent to basic training at Parris Island, South Carolina. After boot camp, he went to Officer Candidates School in Quantico, Virginia. He was sent west to California for more training and then a little further.
In March of 2021 Col. Cooper celebrated his 101st birthday with a drive-by celebration at his church.
Full Colonel USMC
Colonel Carl Cooper Retired, 101, peacefully ended a long, well-lived life at his Vestavia Hills home August 29, 2021. He was born March 18, 1920 on one of the first peach tree farms in Clanton Alabama.
He and the other 11 family members survived the deadly March 21st, 1932 tornado.
Carl developed several traits early on that became constant in his life. He had a thirst for knowledge that took him from senior class president to Howard College (Samford) on a football scholarship where he met his wife, James Anna Rutledge from Oakman.
He was majoring in Biology when Pearl Harbor was attacked and immediately enlisted in the Marine Corps. He trained for war and left California for the Battle of Guadalcanal and then on April 1, 1945, he led in the invasion of Okinawa, the bloodiest battle in the Pacific Theatre. He left Okinawa on July 4, 1945, for Guam to prepare for the invasion of Japan, which was avoided by President Truman.
When he returned from WWII he completed his Bachelor's Degree at Howard College, coached and taught at Perry County high school in Marion Alabama.
He was called back to active duty to serve his country during the Korean War.
Returning to the US, he earned his Master's Degree from Vanderbilt's Peabody College and taught at insert school and was principal at Carbon Hill High School. He was recruited to help organize the Mountain Brook City School System and was named the first principal of Mountain Brook JR High School. He earned his PhD in Education from the University of Alabama while at Mountain Brook.
He was then called back from the Marine Reserves a third time to serve during the Vietnam War.
Before he retired from the Marine Corps on April 1, 1980, he was appointed Regional Director of the Selective Service System. His work ethic carried him to a significant role as Disaster Coordinator for FEMA for another decade of service.
Colonel Cooper was decorated with the prestigious Legion of Merit Military Award, Asiatic Pacific Medal with Star, Presidential Unit Citation and more than a dozen additional medals in recognition of his exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding military service.
Colonel Cooper was proceeded in death by his wife, James Anna "Jimmie" Rutledge Cooper (1924-2003); son, James Carl Cooper USMC (1945-1972); daughter, Charlotte Cooper Fant (1947-2006); parents, John Wiley Cooper (1887-1968) and Mattie Hawkins Cooper (1889-1979); all nine of his siblings and their spouses, Welby Cooper (1910-1994), Louetta Cooper Welch (1915-2008), William Emanuel Cooper (1912-1996), Louetta Cooper Welch (1915-2008), Callie Myrtis Cooper Lambert (1917-2009), Robert Mayo "Bob" Cooper (1923-2013), Laura Mae Cooper Hammock (1925-2012) and Ester Lee Cooper Blackwell (1929-2014).
He is survived by his grandchildren, William S. Fant III (Dava), John C. Fant, Christopher Jason Fant (Tara) and Kaleigh (Mandy) Fant (Todd), 16 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren. Col. Cooper loved the Lord, his family, his country and the Marine Corps. On August 29, 2021 at 12:36 AM he reported for his final duty saluting his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Visitation will be held Friday, September 3 from 9-11AM followed by Celebration of Life at Shades Mountain Baptist Church, 2017 Columbian Road, Vestavia Hills, Alabama 35216.
Full Military Honors following the services at Elmwood Cemetery.
Interview By WBRC Staff Birmingham, Alabama
Published: Aug. 30, 2021 at 2:37 PM CDT
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - Colonel Carl Cooper, Retired, U.S. Marines Corps, died Sunday, August 29. 2021. He was 101 years old. He served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
The seventh of ten children, Colonel Cooper was the only one of his siblings to go to college. He was studying biology and on his way to medical school when his life and the world changed.
"The big bomb dropped, and World War II came along. I joined the Marine Corps April 1, 1942."
He added, "I raised my right hand and said, 'I do.'"
With those two words, Colonel Cooper pledged his lifetime in service to his country.
"I knew I was going to get some training and get some combat, that was the biggest thing, but I had no idea how it would turn out," said Colonel Cooper. "But, the Good Lord had His way of handling things."
From Birmingham, Alabama., then Private Cooper was sent to basic training at Parris Island, South Carolina. After boot camp, he went to Officer Candidates School in Quantico, Virginia. He was sent west to California for more training and then a little further.
In March of 2021 Col. Cooper celebrated his 101st birthday with a drive-by celebration at his church.
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