Curtis Dean Cooper

Curtis Dean Cooper, 86, of Leon, Virginia passed peacefully from this world to his heavenly home on Saturday, November 28, 2015. He died in his home in beautiful Madison County, Virginia with his devoted wife, Margie, by his side.

Curtis, the last of seven children, was born January 25, 1929 in Volney, Virginia to the late D. Frank Cooper and Lura Mae Hall Cooper. He is predeceased by six siblings, Phleet Cooper, R. Milford Cooper, Okie Cooper Osborne, Carrie Cooper Mink, Kilmer Cooper, and Stover Cooper, as well as his stepson, Stevens E. Butler. He is survived by his beloved wife of 56 years, Margie Marie Compton Cooper, his stepdaughter, Linda Butler, a stepdaughter-in-law, Becky Butler of Boston, VA and six grandchildren, Paula and Danny Sims of Boston, VA, Stefanie and Ricky Shaw of Boston, VA, Doug and Karin Butler of Boston, VA, Natalie and Scott Keithley of Warrenton, VA, Greg and Catherine Butler of Culpeper, VA, and Paul and Anna Butler of Yorktown, VA, as well as fifteen great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren.

Upon graduating from Virginia-Carolina High School in May 1947, Curtis moved from his southern Virginia home to Arlington, Virginia, where he lived and worked with his older brother, Milford, as a painter for three years. At the age of 21, he applied to and was hired on October 2, 1950 by Metropolitan Police of Washington, D.C. Following the November 1, 1950 assassination attempt on President Harry S. Truman, the White House was seeking additional security personnel. Curtis applied and was selected to join the White House Police Uniform Division of the Secret Service. He was assigned to White House duty in February 1951 and then, two weeks later, received a draft notice from President Truman to serve in the U.S. Army Military Police in the Korean War. He was an active serviceman from April 13, 1951 until his discharge on February 11, 1953. He remained as Ready Reserve from his discharge until February 1958 and then Reserve until March 1964. After his active Army duty ended in February 1953, he returned to the White House Uniform Division where he rose to Deputy Chief, serving five Presidents including Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard M. Nixon. He retired in July of 1971.

On November 21, 1959, “Curt” wed the love of his life, Margie Marie Compton Butler in Elkton, Maryland. They made their home in Maryland until he retired in 1971, when they moved to Boston, Virginia and enjoyed retirement for ten years. He then decided to return to security employment and was hired by Paul Mellon’s Rokeby Farms in Upperville, Virginia. He worked there from April 1981 until his second retirement in December 1994. In 1989, Curtis and Margie built a home in Madison County, where he enjoyed the last twenty-six years as a gentleman farmer with his “Marg” by his side.

Curtis was saved during revival services with Evangelist Jerry Hughes in August 1976. He was baptized at Rock Mills on September 5, 1976 by Reverend William C. Lancaster, and became a member of Mount Lebanon Baptist Church in Scrabble, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his name to Mount Lebanon Baptist Church, 19 Scrabble Road, Boston, Virginia 22713.

Curtis’s grandsons and grandsons-in law will serve as pallbearers: Doug Butler, Greg Butler, Paul Butler, Danny Sims, Scott Keithley, and Ricky Shaw.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, December 6, 2015 from 3:00pm to 5:00pm at Clore-English Funeral Home, 11190 James Monroe Highway, Culpeper, Virginia. A funeral service will be held in the chapel at Clore-English Funeral Home on Monday, December 7, 2015 at 10:45am, with Pastor Steve Harrelson officiating. Interment will immediately follow at Culpeper National Cemetery (new grounds) with military honors provided by the Honor Guard of the U.S. Secret Service and the Honor Guard of the V.F.W. Post 2524. A reception time of remembrance and fellowship will follow services at Reva Volunteer Fire and Rescue in Reva, Virginia.

These arrangements have been entrusted to Clore-English Funeral Home, 11190 James Monroe Highway, Culpeper, Virginia. Condolences may be offered at clore-english.com