Obituary of Rubye Jean Cooper

Rubye Jean Cooper died Thursday, December 15, 2005 at her home in San Antonio, Texas, at the age of 78 years. Rubye was born May 15, 1927 in Santa Anna, Texas to Howard Raymond and Rilla Jean (Alexander) McAuley. In her early years, Rubye supported her children as a high school band “booster mom” throughout their years in school and had remained a lifelong fan of the Odessa Permian High School Football Team. She enjoyed volunteering at the Pyote Orphanage during the Christmas holidays. Rubye was an active member of the choir of the Mission Bend United Methodist Church. She worked in the banking industry for over 40 years. Rubye loved spending time with all of her family and was an avid traveler, having been on many cruises throughout the world. She is preceded in death by her husband, Wallace Nathan Cooper and is survived by a loving family; two sons, Kevin Cooper and his wife, C. R., of Pearland, Texas and Glynn Cooper and his wife, Marsha, of Fischer, Texas; daughter, Teresa Ghinelli and her husband, Rick, of Spring, Texas; two sisters, Ina Witherspoon, of Hot Springs, Arkansas and Ivon Walton, of Hobbs, New Mexico; six grandchildren, Erica Davis, Vanessa Sickler, Tony Ghinelli, Lauren Ghinelli, Taylor Cooper and Madison Cooper; three great grandchildren, Christian, Cameren and Cortlyn; her companion for the past five years, Col. Art Porcella, of San Antonio, Texas; numerous other relatives and a host of friends. The family received friends from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM Tuesday, December 20, 2005, at Clayton Funeral Home of Pearland. A celebration of Rubye’s life followed at 1:00 PM, in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Sonny Foraker, pastor of First Baptist Church of Pearland, officiating. A private committal was held at Houston National Cemetery. In lieu of usual remembrances, memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association.