- Date Of Death: March 21, 2021
- State: Florida
Elder Robert Washington Cooper Sr. of Tampa passed away Sunday, March 21, 2021.
Elder Robert W. Cooper, Sr. was a native of Amsterdam, Georgia, born the fifth child of Willie and Bobbi Cooper. He attended the public schools of Hillsborough County and was a graduate of Middleton High School, Class of 1956. On June 26, 1956, Robert joined the United States Air Force. He was trained to work as an aircraft mechanic.
On December 22, 1960, Robert married Mary A. Green. They were married for fifty-four years. Mary went home to be with the Lord on November 13, 2015. After the Air Force, Robert worked for the US Government. After the US Government, he opened Stanton Park Amoco, in Washington, DC until 1976. In 1976, Robert and his family moved to Tampa, Florida. He opened Interstate Exxon, in West Tampa. While operating Interstate Exxon, he attended and graduated from Florida Beacon Bible College and Seminary.
Robert appeared in the Who’s Who Among Students in American University and Colleges (1983).
Robert had many talents. He was a devoted husband and father. He was a hard worker, entrepreneur, a spiritual man, kind, willing to help others, strong willed, personable attitude, smart, humble and a man who deeply loved his Lord and Savior. Robert loved gardening. He was well known for having an ear, and saying “well” before giving advice. His greatest passion was leading individuals to Christ. Robert was battling a host of health issues. He was a diabetic, kidney transplant recipient, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, total blindness in his left eye, and legally blind in his right eye. In spite of his health issues, Robert lived his life. He always put God, family, and friends first.
He was preceded in death by: his parents, Willie and Bobbi Cooper; siblings, Carlton Cooper, Bertha Malcom, and Lonnie Cooper and wife, Mary A. Green Cooper.
He leaves to cherish his memory: 3 children, Towanda Denise Cooper of Tampa, FL, Robert Washington II of Huachuca City, AZ, and Terri Deanna McCree and husband (Grafton) of Tampa, FL; sister, Juanita Yeoman and her husband Ruben of Odessa, FL; sister-in-law, Barbara Cooper (Lonnie) of Randallstown, MD; 4 nieces, Shandee Rosser of Oxon Hill, MD, Evora Cooper and her husband Calbert of Tampa, FL, Karen Cooper of Tampa, FL, and Karla Moore of Tampa, FL; 4 nephews, Michael Malcom and his wife Patricia of Hughesville, MD, Jefferey Malcom of Washington, DC, Kenny Cooper of Tampa, FL, and Carlton Cooper II of Tampa, FL; six grandchildren, Robert Washington Cooper III of Tampa, FL, Donovan Cooper of El Paso, TX, Alicia Mangrahm of Tampa, FL, Megan Cooper of Tampa, FL, Paul Alexandre of Tampa FL, and Grafton McCree II of Tampa, FL; cousin, Millie Fielder of Tampa, FL; and a host of nieces, nephew, cousins, other relatives, friends and neighbors.
