COOPER, The Rev. Dr. Robert Marsh
The Rev. Dr. Robert Marsh Cooper, son of Robert Howard Cooper and Mabel Claire Marsh Cooper, was born May 19, 1935 in Salisbury, North Carolina and passed into the greater life on February 17, 2014. He is preceded in death by his parents and a brother, James Lanier Cooper.
He attended the University of Edinburgh, Scotland and later Gerogia Tech where he became a member of Delta Tau Delta. He earned a Bachelor of Science in philosophy from Catawba College in NC, graduating cum laud; a Masters of Divinity from Berkeley Divinity School at Yale University, graduating magna cum laud; a Masters of Theology at Sewanee Divinity School at the University of the South; a Masters of Philosophy from Louisiana State University; and a Doctor of Divinity from Vanderbilt.
He was ordained to the Episcopal priesthood in 1960 and served actively in the church for fifty years as parish priest, seminary professor, mentor, pastoral counselor and international speaker. While being no angel himself, he seemed to come down on the side of the angels. He despised injustice, spoke truth to power, and bore the consequences. He was an active participant in the civil rights movement; he helped orchestrate the passage of votes regularizing the ordination of women to the priesthood; and he was a forceful voice in favor of the recognition of gay rights and callings, both in civil and ecclesiastical settings. He has to his credit innumerable articles and essays published in journals, magazines, and books. He is also known as an accomplished and published poet. He was an entertaining conversationalist who often peppered his listeners with a charmingly wicked wit. The sweep of his knowledge and his gifts seemed to be without limit. And as the end came, he laid himself down day by day in Faith through Grace.
Along with many devoted friends and former students, he is survived by his wife, Ann Hedge-Carruthers, who will miss his love and touch and companionship. His is also survived by his children, Ashley Cooper, Reni Sakos and Eric Cooper and two step-daughters whom he counted as his own, Rebecca Doll and Bess Wynn. Ten grandchildren, Lauren, Katie, Griffin, Kendall, Grayson, Travis, Bryce, Melissa, Bailey, and Lizzie, and a beloved brother, Gary Edward Cooper also grieve his passing.
Well done, thou good and faithful servant.
A funeral service will be held at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral on Tuesday, February 25, 2014 at 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, 2701 Elm St., Little Rock, AR 72204; Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 310 W 17th St., Little Rock, AR 72206 or Arkansas Hospice, 14 Parkstone Circle, North Little Rock, AR 72116. Arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.
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Sponsored by Ruebel Funeral Home.
6 Entries
Nine years ago, I wrote my tribute to this outstanding priest, poet, scholar, gentleman, teacher. In 2019, I wrote several pages about him in my book Revelation: The Education of a Priest, including his introducing Will Campbell's Brother to a Dragonfly. I wrote how memorable Cambell was in the Civil Rights movement. Knowing Bob Cooper was a treasure.
Dale Coleman
School
March 31, 2023
Dear Bob: To this day (3/30/23), I find myself quoting you -- perhaps misquoting you, too -- as you help me interpret and reinterpret my stages of life. You introduced me to John S. Dunne who continues to figure prominently in how I live into my interactions with people, let alone that he provided the central thesis of the doctoral program I completed in 2009. You scared me out of hiding places I took with me to seminary, but I came away after three academic seasons with you with deep appreciation for your humanity and compassion. I might have stayed in touch but didn't, a character trait I'm not proud of, but you seem to have been always there when I needed you, just as you are at this moment as I write. Thank you for asking all the hard questions. Thank you for not dishing out pat answers. Thank you for honoring the best in all of us and for calling out the worst. Thank you for letting yourself be "truthed" and for the "truthing" that you shared with us. Thank you for being so thoroughly who and what you were and for taking every risk inherent in such a project. I hope to have you ever present in my mind as I continue to search for God in Time and Memory.
Ron George, Nashotah Class of 1976
Friend
March 30, 2023
My memory of Bob Cooper at Nashotah House - I worked really hard to pronounce "cooper" with the proper accent and never got it - is deeply grounded in the humus of life and the most delectable spiritual signals. Don't confuse the finger for the moon. Thank you Lord that I knew Bob Cooper.
Dale Hathaway
Dale Hathaway
April 6, 2014
What a wonderful, brilliant man and priest. At Nashotah House he was amazing in his straightforward integrity, and always clever in attacking clergy pretensions. He was a joy to be around, and true about his faith in Jesus. On his end table would be found Freud: Biologist of the Mind,and a volume of Barth's Church Dogmatics. My best to his loving wife and family.
Dale Coleman
March 1, 2014
As a student & student editor for Bob at Nashotah House I am thankful for his challenging witness and care with words. A whole letter grade off with each misspelling! Is there a collection of his poetry? I happened to think of him tonight and found this well-written notice. Thanks & peace with y'all. Chris Laing, '77
Chris Laing
February 26, 2014
Cherish the fond memories. May they live for ever in your hearts. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:8
February 23, 2014
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