Darrel A. Cooper

Darrel A. Cooper of Aberdeen died Wednesday, February 27 at Hart Heritage in Forest Hill. He was 95. Born October 8, 1917 in Volney, VA he was the son of the late John and Matilda Cooper and husband of the late Verna Bechtold Cooper. He was an active member on the baseball, basketball, and soccer teams at Bel Air High School. In his senior year he was voted the school's best athlete. Right out of high school, he was offered to play professional baseball but left that camp to accept the Government job. During the war he volunteered to enter the Army, but during basic training he received a hip injury and was discharged and returned to his government job. He was an avid golf and tennis player too. Mr. Cooper won the Club Championship at the Maryland Golf and Country Club in golf once, and the Senior Club Championship four times. He was a charter member of the Maryland Golf and Country Club, serving on the Board of Directors for four years. As an active sportsman, he won 45 trophies. Mr. Cooper took up tennis as a "senior" and was a member of the Doubles Championship team once. After his active sports ended, he took ballroom dancing at the Arthur Murray Dance Studio with his wife Verna, and for many years they gave ballroom dancing lessons all around the county in churches and at the Edgewood and Aberdeen Proving Ground Officer's Club. Mr. Cooper lived most of his life in Harford County in the Aberdeen and Bel Air areas. He retired from the Edgewood Arsenal after 31 years of service as Chief Executive Officer of the Corp of Engineers Department. He was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church and served on the Council for five terms and was President for two terms. As a devoted supporter of charity, Mr. Cooper served ten years helping his church feed the poor in the Aberdeen area by delivering food to their homes. He volunteered in the church's soup kitchen know as "Martha's Meal". He had given several thousand dollars each year to the Empty Stocking Fund and various other organizations. He was instrumental in aiding Harford County by securing their HUD home for senior citizens whom needed financial assistance, known as Harford Senior Housing. He served 16 years on the Board of Directors, ten years as vice president, and help write the by-laws- for the organization. He always said that "he was at the right place at the right time". he will be missed by many. Mr. Cooper is survived by many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents and wife he was predeceased by his 11 siblings. A visitation will be held on Monday, March 4 from 10-11am at St. Paul's Lutheran Church where funeral services conducted by Rev. Neale Wirtanen will begin at 11:00am. Interment will be at St. Paul's Lutheran Church. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 201 Mt. Royal Ave., Aberdeen, MD 21001. Funeral Home: Tarring-Cargo Funeral Home 333 South Parke Street Aberdeen, MD US 21001