Wilmer A. Cooper

RICHMOND, Ind. – Wilmer A. Cooper died at Friends Fellowship Community on November 5, 2008. He was born April 20, 1920, near Columbiana, Ohio, to Walter and Anna Blackburn Cooper. He was preceded in death by his three older siblings: Sara Cooper Stratton, James Cooper and Thomas Cooper. Wil was married to Emily Haines Cooper in December 1946. They enjoyed 58 years of marriage together until Emily’s passing August 21, 2005. Wil is survived by three daughters, Suzanne Cooper, Cathy Papazian and Barbara Bartl, all of Massachusetts; one son, Scott Cooper of Florida; and seven grandchildren. As a birthright Friend, Wil dedicated his life to working with Quaker institutions and causes. He was educated at Olney Friends School and Wilmington College in Ohio. He received graduate degrees from Haverford College, Yale Divinity School and Vanderbilt University. During World War II he did alternative Civilian Public Service with the American Friends Service Committee. During the 1950’s he was the Administrative Secretary of the Friends Committee on National Legislation in Washington, DC. He joined the Earlham College faculty in 1959 and was the founding Dean of Earlham School of Religion in 1960. At his retirement in 1985, Wil was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Earlham College. After retirement he continued part-time teaching and writing on Quaker subjects, publishing several books. Wil was the Friends United Meeting representative to the World Council of Churches in Geneva, Switzerland 1968-1975, and served a seven-year term on the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council. He served on the Boards of two Quaker colleges, Friends University in Kansas and his alma mater, Wilmington College in Ohio. The latter awarded him a Doctor of Humane Letters, 1997. The next year, 1998, Yale Divinity School Alumni honored Wil with an Award of Distinction in Theological Education. In April 2002 on behalf of Wilmington College, Wil was inducted into the Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges’ Hall of Excellence for his work as founding Dean of Earlham School of Religion. Wil was a member of West Richmond Friends Meeting in Richmond, Ind. In 1994 he and Emily moved to Friends Fellowship Community where they enjoyed the remainder of their retirement years. A memorial service is being planned for Saturday, December 6, 2008, at 1 p.m. at West Richmond Friends Meeting. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Earlham School of Religion, 228 College Ave., Richmond, IN 47374, and West Richmond Friends Meeting, 609 West Main St., Richmond, IN 47374. Condolences may be sent to the family via the guest book at www.doanmillsfuneralhome.com.

Wilmer A. Cooper

April 20, 1920 - November 5, 2008