Edward Joseph Cooper

1919 - 2016

Edward Joseph Cooper, age 96, of Hendersonville, NC died Wednesday, July 20th, 2016 at Margaret R. Pardee Memorial Hospital. He was born December 8th, 1919 in Newark, NJ; a son of the late, Joseph Czupryk and Anna Lubas Czupryk. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Isabell D. Cooper in 2007; one brother, Henry Cooper; and two sisters, Marie Holoski and Jane Anisimowicz.
Edward was a 1938 graduate of Columbia High School, Maplewood, NJ. He was employed by Trans World Airlines shortly after attaining his master mechanics license in 1939 and remained with the company at both LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy International airports in New York as station maintenance manager until retirement in 1982. Edward and Isabell moved from Long Island, NY to Hendersonville, NC in 1995.
He served during World War II in the United States Army Air Corps as a B-17 Fortress pilot. He was shot down during a bombing mission over Germany in April of 1944 and was a POW at Stalag Luft I in Barth, Germany until liberation in May of 1945. His decorations include the Air Medal, European, African, Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon and the Prisoner of War Medal.
He is survived by his daughter, Jane Louise Cooper and her husband, Rory Dalton of Hendersonville; one son, Ward Cooper and his wife, Jamie Johnson Cooper of FL; three grandchildren, Paris Wengert, Tseitel Cooper, and Ezekiel Cooper; two great-grandchildren, Ronnie Wengert and Davinia Wengert; as well as several nieces and nephews.
A private family service will be held at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made in his name to American Ex-Prisoners of War, National Headquarters, 3201 East Pioneer Parkway, Suite 40, Arlington, TX 76010.
An online register book is available for family and friends by visiting www.thosshepherd.com.
Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors and Cremation Memorial Center is in charge of the arrangements.