Photo by Sarah Finnegan.
Carl Cooper inside his Vestavia Hills home. The 98-year-old veteran served in the Marines for 38 years with tours in World War II, Vietnam and Korea.
Carl Cooper, a veteran of three wars, died on Sunday, Aug. 29, Vestavia Hills Mayor Ashley Curry said.
Cooper served in World War II, Korea and in Vietnam, and, according to other media reports, was 101 years old at the time of his death.
Cooper was active in Vestavia Hills city events and was well known around the community.
“We lost a great one,” Curry said. “He was extremely proud of his service. If you didn’t know which house was his on Donna Drive, all you’d have to do is look for the American flag and the Marine Corps flag that he flew year-round.”
Following the death of 13 U.S. service members in Afghanistan, Cooper had his flags at half-staff well before the government issued orders to do so, Curry said.
“I never knew when he didn’t have his flag,” Curry said.
Curry said Cooper had a personal, caring side as well.
“When he would go up to his farm during vegetable season, he’d load up tomatoes, green beans, and put them in little bags,” Curry said.
When he came back home, Cooper would take his vegetables and drive them to his neighbors on his golf cart. Curry said Cooper would focus on his more elderly neighbors, particularly those who had been widowed.
“He was just a real class guy,” Curry said.
Funeral arrangements are set for this Friday, Sept. 3 at Shades Mountain Baptist Church. A visitation will be held from 9 to 11 a.m., with a funeral service to follow immediately after the visitation. Cooper will also receive full military honors following the funeral service at Elmwood Cemetery, 600 Martin Luther King Drive in Birmingham.
