James W. Cooper

James W. Cooper passed away on August 16, 2024, at age 90. Born to George R. and Erma in Philadelphia, he was the youngest of four. He treasured time with his parents and siblings (Henry, Mary and Lorna), and most of all with his wife of almost 70 years, Mary (2019), and the family they raised in Montgomery County.

Theirs was a true love story. They married on Mary’s 18th birthday because they just couldn’t wait another day.

Jim leaves behind their three children, Mary Harris (Thomas), James (Patricia), and Constance Facenda. He was also a loving grandfather to nine, and reveled in being a great-grandfather to six, as well as an uncle to seven nieces and nephews.

Jim’s parents introduced him to celebrating the sport of horse racing and he passed that tradition on to his grandchildren. A man who loved numbers, he also completed the daily Sudoku and closely watched the stock market. He also was a lifelong Eagles fan, attending games for 25 years.

He and Mary loved playing cards, particularly with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren, where he was always the target of as many Draw Fours as possible in rounds of Uno.

Jim was an alumnus of St. Thomas More Boys High School. While attending Philadelphia Community College, he was a dean's list student. At the same time, he was working full time at GE in Valley Forge and commuting to the city.

Jim retired after 39 years at GE, only to be called back to the space sciences lab immediately as a contractor. He worked on GE government contracts supporting the Apollo missions, MSL-2 Space shuttle program experiment package development, and Landsat satellite development program.

Steadfast in his beliefs, Jim was committed to the support of Doctors Without Borders and Trinity Missions.

Anyone who met Jim knew he was a people person. Especially loved by his family, he surprised and delighted them by developing a yoga practice in his later years and joining a bocce league at age 88.

Jim's smile and devotion will forever be carried in the hearts of his family.

In memory of Jim, donations can be made to Doctors Without Borders (https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/ ).

Services are scheduled for Monday, August 26, 2024 at St. Teresa of Avila Roman Catholic Church (1260 S Trooper Rd, Norristown, PA 19403). A viewing will be held from 8:45am to 9:45am with mass to begin at 10:00am. A burial will immediately follow mass at SS Peter & Paul Cemetery in Springfield, PA.