Obituary of William T. Cooper

96, of St. Petersburg, passed away March 12, 2013. Born in Maryville, TN, Bill moved to St. Petersburg with his family in 1923 at the age of six. This began his ninety-year love affair with this city. He graduated from St. Petersburg High School in 1935, and was captain of the football team. He attended Maryville College but returned to St. Petersburg after one year to care for his mother after the death of his father. He served in the Army during World War II, and was the recipient of the Bronze Star for heroic and meritorious service. He spent his career as a Superintendent for Florida Pre-Stressed Concrete, and worked there for over thirty years. He was a member of the Christ United Methodist Church and the St. Petersburg High School "Over-the-Hill Gang." The great passions in his life were trains, planes and the city of St. Petersburg. He spent his free time researching and chronicling information on all these subjects, and enthusias-tically shared this knowledge with any and all who inquired. The true love of his life, however, was his family and from birth until death he selflessly devoted his life to them. He enriched the lives of each and every person he met, and he will be missed greatly. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary E. "Betty" Cooper and daughter, Patricia "Patt" Cooper Dudley. Survivors include son Bill Cooper and Adelina, son-in-law Bill Dudley and Michelle, grandchildren Bill Cooper III (Robin), Michelle Cooper Deson, Jennifer Dudley Tippett, (Jerry) and Bill Dudley, Jr. (Janelle); great-grandchildren Michael, Alyssa, Hanna, Kyle, JP, Elise, Liam and Avery. Friends may call on Sunday, March 17, from 3:00-6:00 p.m. at Anderson -McQueen Funeral and Cremation Center, 2201 Dr. MLK Street N. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul's Catholic Church, 1800 12th St N, on Monday, March 18, with burial following at Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorial donations to Suncoast Hospice.