William Cooper Jr. W

illiam G. Cooper Jr., of Chattanooga, a decorated World War II veteran, passed away on Thursday, June 19, 2014. He retired from Dixie Yarns after 19 years of service and was a former employee with Brock Candy Co. for 19 years. William served in the Air Corps for 33 months as a B-26 Bomber Pilot, was assigned to 319Th BG in the Mediterranean. He was shot down on the 45th Mission run over Northern Italy on October 19, 1944 and was taken to Stalag Luft III in Sagan, Germany. William survived the German Death March and was liberated at Mooseburg, Germany on April 29, 1945. His decorations include the Purple Heart, 9 Air Metals, 2 Presidential Group Citations and the POW medal. After the war he became a member of the 319th Bomb Group Resonance Association where he served as president from 19551956. William was a member of the American Legion, VFW, DAV and the American X-POWS. He was honored by the Sertoman Club with a Heritage award in 1996, was an active member of Senior Friends Association serving as president in 1997. William was a member and deacon at First Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the J. Fred Johnson Bible Class and served two years as president. He was a member of various committees and Usher Team Captain. He was preceded in death by his father, William G. Cooper Sr.; mother, Anna Ruth Cooper; and his first wife, Charlotte Lea Cooper. William is survived by his wife, Beryl Carter Cooper; son, William G. (Barbara) Cooper III; daughters, Pamela Cooper (Gary) Helton and Candis Cooper (Charlie) Potts; three granddaughters, Julie Cooper, Lisa (Adrian) Copeland and Laura Cooper; grandson, Evan Cooper Potts; great granddaughter, Brooklyn Copeland; two stepsons, Kenneth (Brenda) Carter and Rayford (Becky) Carter; 10 stepgrandchildren and 21 stepgreat-grandchildren; one stepgreat-great-granddaughter. The family will receive friends from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 22, at the East Chapel. A graveside service for William will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 24 at Chattanooga National Cemetery with Rev. Lanny Johnson officiating. The family would like to express their gratitude to his caregivers, Patricia Bowers, Becky Corbett and Nancy Allshouse. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Williams name to First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1505 N. Moore Road, Chattanooga, TN 37411. Please share your condolences at www.chattanoogaeastchapel.com. Arrangements are by the East Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory, & Florist, 404 S. Moore Road.