Charles Herbert "Chuck" Cooper

CHARLES HERBERT COOPER
May 8, 1937 ˜ October 17, 2024

Charles Herbert Cooper (Chuck), 87, passed away at his home surrounded by his beloved dogs, Brownie and Missy on Oct. 17, 2024. Chuck was born in Clinton, MO, on May 8, 1937, and his family relocated to Vancouver in the early 1940’s when his father began working for the Kaiser Vancouver Shipyard during the war effort. Chuck graduated from Evergreen High School in 1955 and volunteered for the Army National Guard. Chuck would later become a Teamsters commercial truck driver for ONC, Mclean Trucking and Yellow. During his 30+ years of truck driving, his main focus and motivation was providing for his family.

Chuck loved dogs and had many during his lifetime including a stray (Beau) his son found on the beach one summer during a group camping trip with Fulps and Lance families at Sand Lake, OR. Chuck was a generous man with a smile that could light up a room and a great giggle/laugh. He enjoyed dancing, Mexican food, blueberries, and anything strawberry. He also enjoyed motorcycle riding and was a member of the Black Cats Motorcycle Club in his late teens and early twenties. One of his most memorable motorcycle adventures was a trip to Sturgis with friends Jerry Fulps and Ron Laford. Chuck was also a car lover and had many sweet rides in his life! One of which was a dark green metallic 1957 Ford Fairlane with the infamous 312V8 interceptor engine and 4-speed manual transmission that he installed. Chuck had this Ford Fairlane when he met Louise Guinn, who loved driving the Fairlane with its loud straight pipes every chance she got! Little did Chuck know that Louise would later become the mother of his three children, Kenneth, Karrie and Kathryn. Chuck always wanted a red Corvette and finally got one in his retirement years. He saw a red 1995 Corvette for sale for a deal he couldn’t pass up and he jumped on it! Chuck liked to stay up late watching movies and then sleeping in and was known to say, “If I don’t feel like doing it today, I’ll do it manana!” Another great saying of Chuck’s was, “Hi, I’m Chuck Cooper, not to be confused with D.B. Cooper!”

Chuck is preceded in death by his wife, Karen Garza; his sister, Audrey; and parents, Charles and Marjorie. He is survived by his son, Kenneth (Mona) Cooper; and daughters, Karrie (Aaron) Weber and Kathryn (Daren) Vandeberg as well as a slew of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Chuck was a member of the LDS church and most recently attended services with the Hockinson, WA ward.

Funeral service and entombment will be held on Oct. 24, 2024, 3 p.m. at Northwood Park Funeral Home & Cemetery 16407 N.E. 15th Ave., Ridgefield, WA 98642.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made in Chuck’s name to any of the following organizations: Humane Society For Southwest Washington, SPCA International or Oregon Public Broadcasting

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