Obituary for King Cooper
King Cooper
1937 -2020
King was born Ralph Kingston Cooper, Jr. July 21, 1937 in Phoenix, Arizona. Being a Junior, he was known as King Cooper early on.
He grew up on a farm near Buckeye, Arizona and graduated from Litchfield Park High School and Arizona State University. He was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity. Following graduation, he joined the Arizona National Guard and in 1961 was called up and served in Etain, France during the Berlin Crisis.
For many years, he worked in the banking industry and later for Bakersfield Production Credit in the Lancaster office. King and his wife Patti moved to Taft in 1977 and opened Coast to Coast Hardware in the Westside Shopping Center. Together, King and Patti along with their three children Eric, Jeffrey and Cecley, became part of the community. In 1997, they purchased a vacant building on the corner of 10th and Kern Streets that was previously the West Side Lanes Bowling Alley. Today, it is the current location of Cooper’s True Value Home Center. For 43 years, King loved being a part of the daily operations of his hardware business and helped thousands of customers and made many friends along the way. He continued to work well in to his early 80’s. The store is currently run by sons Eric and Jeffrey Cooper.
Other than the hardware store, King loved to attend Taft College Cougar football games and tend to his beautiful yard, where he spent most of his extra time.
In his later years, King became a frequent flyer at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles where he was treated for numerous heart issues. He passed away in his home on October 23, 2020. He was 83.
He is survived by his wife Patti of 57 years; his son Eric and wife Kathy; grandson Rex, who was his favorite; son, Jeffrey and daughter, Cecley, whom he loved very much, along with two surviving sisters, Marjorie Burtis and husband Sam from Grifton, North Carolina, and Linda Erickson and husband Jerry from Story City, Iowa.
King was truly loved and will be missed.
A graveside will be held on Thursday, November 5, 2020 at 11:00 AM in the West Side District Cemetery in Taft, CA. Greenlawn Funeral Home has been entrusted with his care. For condolences, please visit greenlawnmortuaryandcemetery.com.
1937 -2020
King was born Ralph Kingston Cooper, Jr. July 21, 1937 in Phoenix, Arizona. Being a Junior, he was known as King Cooper early on.
He grew up on a farm near Buckeye, Arizona and graduated from Litchfield Park High School and Arizona State University. He was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity. Following graduation, he joined the Arizona National Guard and in 1961 was called up and served in Etain, France during the Berlin Crisis.
For many years, he worked in the banking industry and later for Bakersfield Production Credit in the Lancaster office. King and his wife Patti moved to Taft in 1977 and opened Coast to Coast Hardware in the Westside Shopping Center. Together, King and Patti along with their three children Eric, Jeffrey and Cecley, became part of the community. In 1997, they purchased a vacant building on the corner of 10th and Kern Streets that was previously the West Side Lanes Bowling Alley. Today, it is the current location of Cooper’s True Value Home Center. For 43 years, King loved being a part of the daily operations of his hardware business and helped thousands of customers and made many friends along the way. He continued to work well in to his early 80’s. The store is currently run by sons Eric and Jeffrey Cooper.
Other than the hardware store, King loved to attend Taft College Cougar football games and tend to his beautiful yard, where he spent most of his extra time.
In his later years, King became a frequent flyer at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles where he was treated for numerous heart issues. He passed away in his home on October 23, 2020. He was 83.
He is survived by his wife Patti of 57 years; his son Eric and wife Kathy; grandson Rex, who was his favorite; son, Jeffrey and daughter, Cecley, whom he loved very much, along with two surviving sisters, Marjorie Burtis and husband Sam from Grifton, North Carolina, and Linda Erickson and husband Jerry from Story City, Iowa.
King was truly loved and will be missed.
A graveside will be held on Thursday, November 5, 2020 at 11:00 AM in the West Side District Cemetery in Taft, CA. Greenlawn Funeral Home has been entrusted with his care. For condolences, please visit greenlawnmortuaryandcemetery.com.