John Green Cooper, 99
GEORGETOWN, Del. - John Green Cooper passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 30, 2022, with his daughters and grandson by his side, just three weeks after celebrating his 99th birthday. He was born in Wyoming, Delaware on June 10, 1923, son of the late Benona Nolan and Mabel Green Cooper and lived in Delaware all his life, residing in Magnolia, Smyrna, Dewey Beach, and Georgetown.
John attended Caesar Rodney High School, leaving in the 11th grade to attend radio school prior to joining the U.S. Army. He received his diploma from Caesar Rodney H.S. in 2017, at the age of 94. John was a proud World War II veteran, having honorably served as a radio operator in North Africa and in Caserta, Italy at Supreme Allied Command Headquarters from 1942 to 1945. He also served in the Delaware Army National Guard from 1955 to 1958. John was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 8801, in Clayton, Delaware. In his younger years, he ran youth dances at the VFW and was known as Jitterbug John and His Dynamite Discs. He was also a charter member of the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana.
John spent most of his working career as a block operator for the Pennsylvania Railroad and later Conrail, working up and down the Delmarva Peninsula. He was a member of the Pennsylvania Railroad Veterans Employees Association since 1963 and enjoyed spending time at their clubhouse and especially the annual oyster dinners.
John had many hobbies. He loved to travel and visited many states, as well as countries abroad. He was an avid stamp collector and was previously a member of Dover Stamp Club and the Sussex Stamp Club. John was a member of the Friends of Cape Henlopen State Park and often talked about attending summer encampments at Fort Miles while in the National Guard. He was proud of the fact that his family roots in Delaware could be traced back to the 1600s.
In addition to his parents; John was preceded in death by his wife, Marie Churchman Cooper; his brothers: Thomas Cooper and Nolan Cooper, both of Dover, Del. and Lloyd Cooper of St. George, Utah; and his sister, Elizabeth Banks of Bowers Beach, Del. He is survived by his daughters: Barbara DeBastiani (James) of Georgetown, Del. and Denise Curtis (Steve) of Milford, Del.; his grandchildren: Annette DeBastiani (Bryan Boyer) of Bear, Del., Mary Caligiure (Chris) of Millsboro, Del., and Dr. William Pajerowski (Dr. Alyssa Levin-Scherz) of Waban, Mass.; his great-grandchildren: Amadeo and Francesca Caligiure, Alexander and Zoe Pajerowski, and Brock Boyer; his step-grandsons: Nick Curtis (Kristin), Simon Curtis (Tamsyn), and Ethan Curtis; and a host of nieces and nephews.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to John's long-time caregiver, Sherita Taylor and his physician, Dr. Fabricio Alarcon, for their excellent care.
A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, July 13, 2022, at 12:30 p.m., at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Dodd-Carey Chapel, 307 North Bedford Street, Georgetown, Del., where friends may call beginning at 11 a.m. Interment will follow the services at 2 p.m., at Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 26669 Patriots Way, Millsboro, Del.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to the Veteran Employees Association - PRR, c/o Carol Fry, 1 Mews Road, Milford, DE 19963.
Please visit John's Life Memorial Webpage and sign his virtual guestbook at www.parsellfuneralhomes.com.