Virginia Cooper
Virginia June Cooper, 91, of Oakwood died Sunday, February 24 at her home, surrounded family.
She was born June 21, 1921, to the late Edgar Ray and Helene (Eastman) Rockey. Virginia attended a one-room schoolhouse until fourth grade, when she began attending Continental Schools from which she graduated in 1939. She married Virgil Homer Cooper on April 21, 1939 and in 1941 they moved to a house north of Oakwood where she lived until her death.
Known as the matriarch and co-founder of Cooper Farms, Virginia worked on the turkey farm and in the hatchery during the early years of the company. She had a passion for crocheting and would regularly be found making blankets and other items for friends and family. Virginia was a member of the Ladie’s Aid Society, Pollyanna Club and the Oakwood Methodist Women’s Group, the Twin Oaks United Methodist Church, Sunday School Secretary/Treasurer and a member of the Everwilling Club, a home demonstration club established in 1948.
Virginia is survived by her three children and two daughters-in-law, Jim (Anada) Cooper, Dianne Cooper, Gary Cooper (Cheri) all of Oakwood, Ohio, as well as 13 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, three great-step grandchildren and two great-great step grandchildren, Greg and Suzanne Cooper (Arlyn, Tianna and Royce), Dawn and Mike Price (Peyton), Darcy Cooper, Athena and Steve Brown (Nicholas Brown, Lindsey and Jake Roose [Jackson], Christopher Brown and Allison Brown [Riley]), Kendra and Byron Keeler (Maggie, Aaron and Joseph), Eric and Sandy Ludwig (Brittany and Reid Linder, Holly, Andrew, Blair and Brooke), Matthew and Amy Ludwig (Wesley), Jennifer and Mark VanCleve (Jacob, Jade and Malayna), Heather Cooper (Avery), Tara Cooper, Luke Cooper, Kacy and Brett Wagner, and Cole and Vanessa Cooper, a sister, Phyllis May Lloyd of Continental, and three brothers, Richard Rockey of Defiance, Marvin Rockey of Texas, and Randall Rockey of New Mexico.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Virgil Homer Cooper, a great-grandson, Brandon Andrew Ludwig, a sister, Carol Alma Shirey, and two brothers, Delbert Lee Rockey and Royal John Rockey.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, February 28 at Twin Oaks United Methodist Church, Oakwood.
Visitation will be from 2-8 p.m. Wednesday, February 27 at Heitmeyer Funeral Home, Oakwood, and one hour prior to services on Thursday at the church.
In lieu of flowers and gifts, the family asks that contributions be made to the Cooper Community Library, 206 North First Street, Oakwood, Ohio 45873 or Twin Oaks United Methodist Church, 201 East Harmon Street, Oakwood, Ohio 45873.
