Alita R. Cooper

Alita R. Cooper, age 98, passed away on Friday, February 7, 2020, in San Antonio at The William. Alita Zerber was born in La Porte, Indiana and celebrated a full and happy life amid the challenges of the Greatest Generation, those who endured the uncertainty of the Great Depression and WWII—she and Fredric M. Cooper made a life for themselves and their family in the years to follow. They married on June 13, 1944, and together, they shared 67 years until his passing in 2012. She was a highly educated woman. She graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics and from the University of North Carolina with a Master of Science in Library Science and a Master of Arts in Teaching. Using her skills from working in library science and education, she was a volunteer puppeteer and storyteller in the Leon Valley Public Library for over 20 years. Throughout the years, she was an avid swimmer, bowler, golfer, lover of music and lover of books and an appetite for learning new things. She was a 4-H Leader, and enjoyed writing poems, Readers Theater Scripts as well as scripts for her puppet theater. Her creative skills led her to sew family clothes and puppet costumes. Her crafting expertise included all types of needlework and making puppets for children to enjoy. Teaching young children was her greatest love, and was delighted at the sight of a child through her 98 years. She spent her life dedicated to making those around her happy, inquisitive and loved. Alita was recognized as Time Warner's Hometown Hero in 2002 at the age of 80. Alita was the first woman Elder with the Presbyterian Church USA in North Carolina. She was very active in her church, serving in many different capacities when they lived in New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Texas. In her later years, she was awarded the "Best Smile" medal at Brookdale, formerly Horizon Bay and still enjoyed crafting, music, and exercise class. Books omnipresent and always read the written word wherever. She confused us on a hospital visit when she was reading a number and a short word on electrical outlet until we caught up with her. She wanted to know what it meant. When she moved to an assisted living apartment after her husband died, she became more interested in her harp. She always wanted a harp and her loving husband ordered her one from Ireland. She also found a harpist to take lessons from and stayed as long as she could still learn. Traveled throughout all the states and to many countries outside the United States. Special favorites were Egypt, Europe, England, Morocco and China. This little woman walked the China Wall, kissed the Blarney Stone and took on whatever she could physically do to enjoy her travels. If you said "go", she was ready to go wherever suggested. Loved playing games including bridge, pinochle, canasta, Pictionary, and many others. She would learn a new game, but then she would change the rules along the way. She loved to win. She was challenged when she and her great-granddaughter would play games because they both made up their own rules. Aging was not in her vocabulary. She was always going to be 39 again. Kept the family laughing about that and realized she learned from comedian Jack Benny as that was the age he always claimed. She loved and supported PBS and the British Comedies were enjoyed every Sunday evening with her husband. She told her grandsons how much she liked The Who, which pleased the boys. It became a family joke since truly British, but a Rock Band, not Dr. Who. A quote remembered, "Are you talking to hear yourself talking?" She was preceded in death by her husband, Fredric M. Cooper; siblings, Orran Zerber, Dale Zerber, "Peg" Nedra Lenore Compton; and son-in-law, Stephen A. Speights. Alita is survived by her children, Anne C. Macintosh Speights, and Mark D. Cooper (Marie); grandchildren, Douglas C. Macintosh (Terri) and Heath C. Macintosh; great-grandchild, Bianca F. Macintosh; sister, Lesta Ribordy; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., Saturday, February 22, 2020, at Porter Loring Mortuary on McCullough Ave. MEMORIAL SERVICE MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2020 11:00 A.M. OAK HILLS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 6739 Callaghan Rd. San Antonio, TX 78229 Rev. Rachael Huntley will officiate. Interment will follow in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Oak Hills Presbyterian Church.