Donald James Cooper

Donald James Cooper, 75 Struthers- Donald James Cooper, 75, of 315 Hopewell Drive, former Struthers Fire Chief, died Friday evening at Forum Health Northside Medical Center. Mr. Cooper was born March 16, 1929 in Struthers, a son of James and Dorothy Stevens Cooper. He was a life-long resident of Struthers. He was a 1946 graduate of Struthers High School and received his Bachelors degree in Journalism from the University of Missouri. As a youth he wrote sports articles for The Journal in Struthers and worked as a pressman. In 1954, Mr. Cooper joined the Struthers Fire Department and worked as a fire engineer for 17 years. He was appointed Fire Chief in 1971 and served for nine years, retiring, April 2, 1980. He also was owner and president of Metals Transport Inc. for 20 years. He was a member of Western Star F&AM # 21, Al Koran Shrine where he was a former member of the clown unit, and the Youngstown Shrine Club where he was one of the founders of the Transportation Unit. Mr. Cooper and other Youngstown area Shriners would use their own vehicles to transport children from the Youngstown area to the Erie and Cincinnati Shrine Hospitals and return. This unit later purchased vans to provide this service with the volunteers continuing to drive. He was a member of the Ohio Fire Chief Association, Mahoning County Fire Fighters Association and the Tri-County Fire Fighter Association. He was a former board member of the Struthers Federal Credit Union, a life member of the Youngstown Traffic Club and a member of the ROMEOâa�a��S. He was a member of the Struthers United Methodist Church. Besides his wife the former Margaret Stanley, whom he married June 23, 1955, he leaves two daughters, Peggy Ann (Larry) Carter of Bedford, Kentucky and Susan (Bill) Branner of Fairfax, Virginia; one brother, Jack Cooper of Poland and four grandchildren, Shannon Veauthier, Matthew Branner, Jonathan Branner and Marc Cooper. Besides his parents, a son, Mark Cooper preceded him in death. Funeral services will be Tuesday, 11:00 AM at the Davidson-Becker Funeral Home. Friends may call Monday from 5-8 PM and Tuesday, from 10:00 AM until 10:45 AM at the Funeral Home. Area firer fighters will drive by the funeral home, Monday 6:00 PM Memorial Tributes are to take the form of Contributions to the Shrine Hospitals, P.O. Box 302, North Lima, Ohio 44452. Condolences may be sent at www.beckerobits.com .

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