Vernon "Vern" Orlo James Cooper

Vernon "Vern" Orlo James Cooper, 100, passed away peacefully in his home on Nov. 19, 2024. He was born March 29, 1924, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Genevieve and Harry Cooper; and was raised from age seven by Genevieve and Bradley Heard.

Vern dropped out of high school in 1942, after the 11th grade, to join the U.S. Army Air Corps. As part of the “Greatest Generation” he left for the European Theater with the 328th Fighter Control Squadron on Christmas Eve, 1943. He served in Italy, France and Germany through November 1945. Vern continued to serve as a member of the Air Force Reserve through the Korean War. After the war he worked for the repair department of Bell Telephone Company of Pennsylvania, retiring after 31 years of service.

He married Elizabeth Frances Gruber in November 1959, with whom he had a son, Bradley, and a daughter, Cheryl, before her premature death in 1976. In 1977 he married June Rose Stilz and they were married for 40 years until her death in 2017. Vern is survived by his children, his stepdaughter Cherie and her children Ryan Cash and Meghan Cervantes.

A celebration of Vern’s life will be held at 2 pm Dec. 3 in the gazebo at Forsyth Memorial Park on Yadkinville Road. Family requests all those in attendance plan to wear bright and cheerful clothing to emphasize that Vern is free.

Vern was more than pleased with the life he had and left this parting sentiment:

“And so…

He lived and died.

What’s more to say?

He’s now alone

And on his way.”