Raymond Frederick Cooper, Jr.

Raymond F. Cooper, Jr., 99, was born in Chicago, IL to Raymond, Sr and Leva Cooper. He was the 2nd of five children; Velma, Betty, Robert and Richard Cooper.

Ray married Regina (Gina) Schroth, a Cook County Hospital nursing student, in 1947. They raised two children, a daughter, Julie Woodrow (Cooper), a son Scott Cooper, had one grandson, Collin Cooper and 3 greatgrandchildren, Liam, Daryl and Riley Cooper.

DU Law school brought Ray and Gina to Denver and after passing the Bar, Ray embarked on a satisfying career in mortgage banking. Ray and Gina truly took advantage of all that Colorado had to offer. They enjoyed gardening, camping, hiking and fishing throughout the Western states; played duplicate bridge and enjoyed traveling together to many destinations around the world. Together they shared 56 years; Gina predeceased him in 2004.

Ray was a member of the Optimist Club, Mortgage Bankers Association and served on the Cherry Creek Valley Water Board. He remained physically active playing handball and then later, racketball into his late seventies. He was a superb fly fisherman. With his passion for sports, he never missed a Nuggets, Broncos or a Bears game. Ray loved and was adored by his many dogs over his lifetime and by one very sweet kitty, Felicity.

As was one of the few remaining WWII veterans, he had joined the Army after high school with his sight on serving in the Army Air Corp. He passed all the exams to qualify for the year-long pilot training, after which he reported to Newport News to board a Liberty ship bound to Foggia, Italy. There he joined the 15th Air Force, 97th Bomb Group, 414th Squadron and spent the remainder of his war service piloting B-17’s with his crew on missions over the Slavic countries and Germany. He only related his stories of his time flying missions quietly, more as the duty as a pilot rather than doing something extraordinary. Ray was fortunate to enjoy an Honor Flight to the US Capital. He rated that experience among the best of his life.

Ray married Nancy in 2005 and they enjoyed many trips and cruises around the world. Nancy predeceased him in 2020.

Scott Cooper predeceased his father in January 2023.

Ray is survived by Julie and Ted Woodrow, Collin and Kate Cooper and family, Robert Cooper and Trista Robrahn.