Rev. William Desmond Cooper

Rev. William Desmond Cooper, 67, of Dover, died Thursday, May 16, 2002 at his home following an extended illness.Born in Uhrichsville, he was the son of the late Desmond J. and Hazel M. Freeman Cooper. He was a 1952 graduate of Uhrichsville High School, 1958 graduate of Baldwin-Wallace College and 1962 graduate of Claremont Graduate School of Theology of the University of Southern California with a masters degree in Theology.While attending graduate school, Des worked had worked as a writer and singer for the Dick Van Dyke show and upon his graduation in 1962, he was ordained as a minister in the United Methodist Church. He was the former National chairman of the Cy Young Centennial in Tuscarawas County and was co-founder of the Cy Young Ohio Baseball Hall of Fame in Newcomerstown. He was active in the Ohio State, Tuscarawas County and Dover Historical Societies. He worked for twelve years as a Service Unit Director for the Salvation Army in Western Pennsylvania and had also served the Salvation Army in Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Washington D.C.He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in New Philadelphia, the New Philadelphia Lions Club and a member of the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity.Surviving is his wife, the former, Ada M. Obermiller who he married November 1, 1991; four step-children; eleven step-grandchildren; two nephews; a niece; three great nephews and a great niece. Two sisters are deceased.Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 23, 2002 at 1:30 PM in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home in New Philadelphia with Rev. Mike Seeley and Rev. Stuart Barr officiating. Burial will be at Evergreen Burial Park in New Philadelphia. Visitation will be held Wednesday, May 22, 2002 from 5 to 8 PM in the funeral home. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to Hospice of Tuscarawas County, 201 west Third Street, Dover, Ohio, 44622.