Alford Cooper, Sr.

Cooper, Alford B. Sr.aka Sarge, Born February 10, 1918 in Plummer, Idaho. The 2nd oldest of five children, supported by his mother Pearl Bell Cooper and father, Alonzo Cooper in the logging camps of Idaho, has departed this earth for his heavenly home to be re-united with his brothers; George, Bill, Leo, and sister Frances as well as his wife, Mildred Cooper of 52 years on Sunday July 2, 2006. In 1935 at age 17, Alford enlisted in the Army. He has the Bronze Star, Silver Star with oak leaf clusters, the Combat Infantry Badge, and three Purple Hearts from WWII and Korean War. Alford retired in 1965 after 30 years of continuous service in the United States Army as Master Sgt. E-8 with four awards of Good Conduct, The Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service and a Letter of Appreciation for many years of outstanding service to his country. After his retirement from the Army, Alford received a Certificate of Merit in recognition of Outstanding Service and Effective Innovations of Supply Operation during the period of December, 1966 to November 1969 in the California Cadet Corps. Following the Cadet Corp, Alford served in the National Guard of California as Chief Warrant Officer 4 for another 11 years. In 1980 he finally left the Armed Services for an active life of Scuba Diving, Hunting, and Golf at Rancho Murrieta, California. During this time he and wife Millie loved to travel in their motor home to El Centro, California where they would meet up with long-time friends during the winter months. Still not satisfied with his thirst for travel and adventure, he persuaded his loving wife who he meticulously cared for until her death in 1996 to move to Brookings Oregon, where among hobbies of building many useful objects and assorted crafts he bought a fishing boat and kept all his friends and family in an unending supply of fresh and smoked salmon for the next 18 years of his life. Pop as he was affectionately known to all who loved him is survived by his daughter Alfreda Dee Cloyd of Surprise, Arizona, three sons, Alford Jr., of Gold Canyon, Arizona, Loren of Las Vegas, Nevada and Michael of Sacramento, California; 8 Grandchildren and 7 Great Grandchildren. Pop has touched the lives of many, especially his daughter, daughter-in-law & grandchildren who learned the art of fishing al'la Pop and his sons, the art of golfing, who incidentally are still trying to achieve the coveted Hole in One as he did. Pop lived a full action packed life and will be missed for his humor and zest for living by all who knew him especially his long time friend and confidant Fay Perman of Brookings, Oregon. At age 88, and still the dapper, handsome individual he was, he would never allow himself to be convinced to partake in senior citizen activities. He would say That's for old people. A full military burial service will take place at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona on Wednesday, July 12, 2006, at 10:00 AM. Anyone wishing to make donations may do so in his name to your local Veteran's Association.