Gordon Dale Cooper

1934 - 2022

Gordon Dale Cooper
July 16, 2022
Houston, Texas - Lieutenant Colonel Gordon Dale Cooper (US Army, Ret.) of Houston, TX passed away on Saturday July 16, 2022.
He was born on October 16, 1934 in Parkersburg, WV to Lewis Raymond Cooper and Martha (Tefft) Cooper who proceeded him in death. He is survived by his wife Jean (Sallaz) who was born in Ripley, WV. They were married for 63 years. They have two daughters, Sharon Louise Slother of Philipsburg, PA and Susan Elise Bryant of Houston, TX. He is also survived by four grandsons and one great granddaughter.
He graduated from West Virginia University in 1956 with a B.S. Degree in Industrial Management. He entered the US Army in 1957 as a Second Lieutenant and graduated from flight training in 1958. Upon retirement in 1977 he had accumulated over 3700 hours of fixed and rotary wing flying time and achieved the rating of Master Army Aviator. Military decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal w/V and 28 OLC's. While serving two years in Vietnam, he achieved over 1000 hours of combat flying time in fixed and rotary wing aircraft. Other military tours included Alaska, Italy, and numerous stateside assignments.
In 1977 he became affiliated with McDonald's Corporation and was granted a franchise in 1979 in Philipsburg, PA which he operated until 1992. He and his wife moved to Gulf Breeze, Fl in 1994, to Jacksonville, Fl in 2006, and to Houston, TX in 2019.
No memorial service is planned. Arrangements are pending for burial in Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
~Written by your thoughtful husband.