Mildred (Tomy) Alvina (Thompson) Cooper (1918-2010)
COOPER, THOMPSON, TONN, CHARLS, RIFE, TINGLEAF, LANDT
Posted By: Ames Tribune
Date: 5/16/2010 at 09:58:39
THE AMES TRIBUNE, Ames, Story County, Iowa, Wednesday, May 12, 2010.
Mildred Cooper, 92, of Ames, died Tuesday, May 11, 2010. Arrangements are pending with Adams Funeral Home.
THE AMES TRIBUNE, Ames, Story County, Iowa, Thursday, May 13, 2010.
Mildred (Tomy) Alvina Cooper, 92, died Tuesday, May 11, 2010, at her home in rural Boone. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 15, at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Ames.
Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m., with remembrances at 8 p.m., Friday, May 14, at St. Thomas Aquinas Church.
Tomy was born Feb. 23, 1918, in Weyerhauser, Wis., daughter of Linda Tonn Thompson and Samuel Thompson. At the age of 2, her father gave her into the care of Julius and Elizabeth Tonn. She later was given to her Grandmother Lynch, Julius’ mother. At the age of 9, she moved to Prairie City, under the care of Violet, Elsie and George Charls — two spinsters and a bachelor. Tomy spent the rest of her life in Iowa.
She graduated from Drake University in Des Moines in 1939, with degrees in literature and school administration. She served as a principal and teacher in the Ankeny, Napier and United Community Schools. She married Dick Cooper, of rural Boone, May 22, 1943, and spent the rest of her life on the Cooper family farm.
She spent her entire adult life consumed in education. After marrying, she focused on farm life but maintained active participation as a full- and part-time teacher for United Community Schools. She taught her students the value of the spoken and written word. She cherished her time as a speech judge for the state of Iowa. She loved to read. After mastering the classics, she moved on to contemporary literature and romance novels. She loved to garden both vegetables and flowers. She had an ability to find joy in everything and inspired all whom she encountered. She was the matriarch of the Cooper family and a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
She is survived by six children, Marlys, of Ames, Sharon (and Jack) Rife, of Wilton, Linda “Kathy” (and John) Tingleaf, of Galva, Ill., Dennis, of Boone, Dwight (and Cindy), of Spokane, Wash., and Dorothy (and Don) Landt, of Palo; seven grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Dick Cooper; her parents; her guardian, Violet Charls; and three brothers.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be designated to St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Ames, or the Boone County Family YMCA to be used for the swimming rehabilitation program and the literacy program.
Adams Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
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