At the time of his passing, he was residing in Boonsboro, Maryland.  

He had spent his last two months under the gracious care of the Veterans Hospice facility in Martinsburg, West Virginia, until he succumbed to natural causes on the 22nd.

He was born on April 4, 1931, to William (Jack) Thaniel Cooper and Reva Mae Cooper Starke. He was known to his childhood friends as Possum.

He was their second child and is survived by his siblings, Mary Lee Hobbs and Norman Payne Cooper.  

He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Dorothy Mae Ushery, and his eldest brother, Roy Thaniel Cooper.

He married the love of his life, Bessie Mae Newsome Cooper on July 3, 1954, in Emporia, Virginia, and remained his faithful companion until his death.

He served his country in the U.S. Army from February 6, 1951 through February 5, 1954, including the time he spent on the front lines during the Korean War as a machine gun operator. He was part of the 7th Calvary. He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, Korean Service Medal (4 bronze stars), Army Occupation Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, United Nations Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.

He was a fine, self-taught musician and sang tenor.

He felt the calling of God on his life to become a preacher and attended Tennessee Temple from 1969 - 1972. He pastored People's Baptist Church in Frederick, Maryland, for 16 years, Nimitz Missionary Baptist Church in Nimitz, West Virginia, for 7 years and Lakeview Park Baptist Church in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, for 15 years until his retirement in 2010.

He and Bessie moved to Martinsburg to be near their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He continued to preach in his retirement until his health would no longer permit it.

He is survived by his wife, Bessie Mae Newsome Cooper, his daughters Janis Flickinger, Margie Stemple, Sandra Crumpton, Rebecca Hatch and his son, Arnold G. Cooper, Jr. along with their spouses, 13 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren with one on the way.

He spent his life serving the Lord and serving others. He was a rare treasure and beloved by all who knew him.

"Others, Lord, yes others

Let this my motto be

Help me to live for others

That I may live like Thee." - Charles D. Meigs

The service to celebrate Reverend Cooper's life will be held at 11 o'clock Saturday morning, April 28, 2018 at Victory Baptist Church, 2360 Bolling Road, Roanoke Rapids, NC.  

Interment will follow in Cedarwood Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 - 8:00 pm Friday at Hockaday Funeral and Cremation Service, 507 US Hwy 158 West, Roanoke Rapids.

A memorial service will be held at 6:30 pm Monday, April 30 at the Lighthouse Baptist Church, 15251 Falling Waters Road in Williamsport, Maryland.

Condolences may be sent to the family at hockadayfs.com