Philip Robert Cooper

West Point, 1965

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Merton E. Munson on January 14, 2008:

Major Phillip R. Cooper, Retired, 65, of Bayonet Point, Florida, died January 5, 2008 after a prolonged illness. He was predeceased by his parents, Paul A. Cooper and Elsbeth J. Schuler (Cooper) Warner. He is survived by his wife of forty-two years, Darlene R. Pahura Cooper; two brothers, Claude, and Paul, a step-brother, Doug Warner, and a step-sister, Nora Thompson; three daughters, Michelle Williams, Christie Jensen, and Sara Beth Cooper; seven grandchildren, and mother-in-law, Dorothy Pahura. Phil was raised in Lyndonville, New York and graduated from USMA in 1965. He was a graduate of Airborne and Ranger schools and was rated as a fixed wing and rotary wing aviator. Phil graduated number one in his Ranger class with the highest point score recorded to that date. He led long range reconnaissance patrols in Vietnam. He was awarded the Bronze Star with "V". His assignments included: Commander, D Troop, 8th Squadron, 194th Armored Brigade; U.S. Army Concepts Analysis Agency -- he received the meritorious service award for original development of real-time combat deployment software; and Command and General Staff College. He headed the Advanced Calculus Department at West Point, and was Executive Officer of 1st Battlion, 34th Armor. He scheduled operations at NORAD in Cheyenne Mountain. He earned a Masters degree in Industrial Engineering from Arizona State University, where his was a member of Sima Xi National Research Honor Society. He earned an MBA from Long Island University, and did doctoral work at the University of Florida. After his military retirement, Phil settled in Florida, where Phil was a tax course instructor and Enrolled Agent at H&R Block. A Military funeral with honors is to be held in June at West Point, New York. Memorial contributions may be made to the Cooper Scholarship for Mathematics at River Edge High School, 11646 Town Center Road, New Port Richey, FL 34654.

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