Dale R. Cooper

Dale R. Cooper, 93 of South Bend passed away on Thursday, August 10, 2017 at Memorial Hospital, South Bend with his family by his side.

He was born on May 31, 1924 in East Alton, IL to the late Owen R. and Georgiana (Sander) Cooper.

On October 27, 1945 in South Bend he married Geraldine Montague who preceded in him in death on December 28, 2013.

Dale is survived by his three daughters, Connie L. (Bud) Likes of Cape Coral, FL, Janet S. (Dean) Curtis of Thousand Oaks, CA and Dawn R. (Alan) Sherk of South Bend; his brother, Gary D. (Rosemary) Cooper of Phoenix, AZ; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren all whom he loved and cherished.

He proudly served his country in the Army Air Corp as a pilot during WWII.  He graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in Accounting.  He discovered he didn’t like a desk job and went to work for Bendix Corp. as a Pipe Fitter retiring in 1989 after many years of service.

Dale was a member of the Plumber & Pipe Fitter Local Union #172, Southlawn United Methodist Church and a former member of the Masonic Lodge #43.

He loved sports and played basketball in High School and at the University.  His favorite baseball and hockey teams are the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Blues.   He loved spending time with his family and grandchildren and when his grandchildren would visit he would always say “I have a little project for you.”

Visitation will be held on Monday, August 14th from 4:00 t0 8:00 PM at Hanley and Sons Funeral Home “Southwest Chapel” located at State Road 23/W. Ireland Road, South Bend.  Funeral service will be on Tuesday, August 15th at 11:00 AM in the funeral home with Pastor Larry Chrisman officiating.  Burial with Military Honors will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Osceola, IN.

The family request memorial contributions be made to the Center for Hospice, 501 Comfort Place, Mishawaka, IN 46545.

The HANLEY and Sons Funeral Home handled arrangements, services and extends its deepest sympathy and heartfelt prayers to the Cooper family.

Condolences may be expressed online through our website: www.hanleyandsonsfuneralhomes.com

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