Wilbert “Wib” Wilson Cooper

Wilbert "Wib" Wilson Cooper, 86, of Marietta died Thursday (March 5, 2009) at Marietta Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

A lifelong resident of the area, he was born at Tunnel on Nov. 5, 1922, to John M. and Martha Ann Dalrymple Cooper.

On May 5, 1949, he married Wilma Chute Cooper, who preceded him in death on June 20, 2005. He is survived by one daughter, Sue Ellen McNutt-Cooper Bishop of Marietta; a grandson, Todd Wilson Bishop of Tarpon Springs, Fla.; two great-grandchildren, Cogan Wilson James Bishop and Catterina Shalee Bishop of Minerva, Ohio; four sisters, Hazel Lane (Robert) Garrett, Mildred Elliott (Bud) Dawson, Virginia (Dale) Huck and Alfreda Huck, all of Marietta; nine nieces and 19 nephews; and several great-nephews and great-nieces.

He was preceded in death by his wife; parents; four brothers, Pearl, Ray, Roy and Leonard; two sisters, Florence Cooper and Alberta Carpenter; a son-in-law, James Bishop; seven brothers-in-law; five sisters-in -law; and several nieces and nephews.

In January 1984 he retired from Labor Local 639. At the time of his retirement, he had been employed by Catalaytic Construction Co. at Shell Chemical, Belpre, for 25 years. He was at Shell the day ground was broken for the plant construction and continued with Catalaytic in plant maintenance until his retirement. He also had worked on the construction of both Ohio power plants at Waterford and Conalco at Hannibal. He joined Local 639 in 1953 where he held various offices, including executive board member for 56 years. Prior to 1953 he had also been employed as a blacksmith at Acme Fishing and Tool, Parkersburg, and at Ideco at Marietta.

He served in the United States Navy from 1944 through 1946 as a fireman first class on the United States LST 845, serving in the Asiatic-Pacific area campaign. He was a member of American Legion Post 64 and VFW Post 5108.

He was a very devoted husband and family man, who also enjoyed his many friends. He was a person who saw good in everyone, and no one was a stranger to him for long. He not only made it a point to talk with everyone, he was also willing to give a helping hand to anyone in need.

Wib was an avid outdoorsman. His favorite sport was coon hunting and raising and training coon dogs, talking to his many friends about the hunts and dogs, and reading the stories of coon hunts in the various magazines he took. He was at his happiest when he was hunting, fishing, riding his ATV or simply walking in the woods.

By Wib's choice there will be visitation only on Saturday (March 7) from 2 until 9 p.m. at McClure-Schafer-Lankford Funeral Home. There will be no service. Private burial will be held at East Lawn Memorial Park.

Memorial contributions may be made to Humane Society of the Ohio Valley, P.O. Box 5, Marietta, Ohio 45750.