Charles Cooper

Lt. Col. Charles W. Cooper, USAF (Retired) was born in Texarkana, Texas on November 1, 1932, to McKay and Florence May Cooper.  He graduated from the University of Arkansas with a bachelor of science in geology and served in the U.S. Army from January 27, 1955, to January 19, 1957, attaining the rank of specialist 3rd class when he transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve and subsequently to the U.S. Air Force Reserve on October 30, 1957.  After graduating from Louisiana State University, he joined the U.S. Air Force as a second lieutenant on September 6, 1959, and was stationed at Ramey Air Force Base in Puerto Rico (where he met and married his wife, Marva Jane Haas), Alabama, Florida, Thailand, and finally at Randolph Air Force Base in Universal City, Texas.  He had numerous duties and responsibilities over the course of his career, including: serving as an ROTC instructor at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida, and helping to establish the Community College of the Air Force while at Randolph Air Force Base in Universal City, which is currently the world’s largest community college system, educating approximately 270,000 active, guard, and reserve enlisted personnel.

He retired from the U.S. Air Force receiving an honorable discharge on September 30, 1977 having attained the rank of lieutenant colonel.  Following his retirement from the U.S. Air Force, he taught accounting and typing in the Business Technology Department at San Antonio College for 25 years.

He and his wife are long time members of The Church of the Resurrection, Episcopal, in San Antonio where they served as members of the choir.  In addition, he was a member of the school board and altar guild and enjoyed playing the Tax Collector and helping with Vacation Bible School.

He is survived by Marva, his wife of 56 years, his daughter Linda Fletcher and her husband Patrick Fletcher of Rockwall, Texas, daughter Sandra Cooper of Universal City, and grandchildren Brandon Cooper, Brandy Cooper, Sean Fletcher and his wife Anne Marie Fletcher, and Kyle Fletcher.  He is also survived by his sister-in-law Dr. Mary Haas of Morgantown, West Virginia, niece Cate Bennett of Silver Springs, Maryland, and other nieces and nephews.

Due to the various federal, state, and local restrictions, he was buried privately at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio on Friday, March 27th.

Both a memorial service and military honors will be rendered when the various federal, state, and local restrictions are removed and will be posted on this website.

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