Obituary for Herbert A. "Herb" Cooper
Herbert Axe Cooper, born December 8, 1926 in Garland, Texas as the 11th of 12 children born to William Boone Cooper and Mabel Axe Cooper. He grew up in Garland and Sacshe and was an Irving resident for 71 years until his death on February 19, 2021.
Herbert Cooper moved to Irving, TX to open the first supermarket in the town in 1950. He was at the time the youngest manager of an A&P Supermarket in the country. He was determined to make this town and his store a success. He walked the entire town introducing himself to the businessmen and people of Irving, making a great impression on many of them. He joined the chamber of commerce and was a past president. Early in the 1950’s Irving was growing into a city, and Herbert was instrumental in the development of that city. Anyone that knew him knows his tireless efforts to promote Irving, including an old film entitled “Look out Dallas, Here Comes Irving” that he cooperated and appeared in.
In 1954 Herbert left the A&P and became partners with Phil Lindman who had opened a toy store next door to his A&P. Herbert thought of Phil and Mary Lindman as his best friends until their deaths. In 1957, Phil went on to other endeavors and left Herbert with the toy store. Cooper’s Toyland was born then.
All old Irvingites know of Cooper’s Toyland and Herbert Cooper. For 30 years, the toy store thrived and grew to 3 toy stores and 1 gift shop. Steve Cooper joined the firm in 1974 following college and became a partner with his dad in the toy business. Cooper’s Toyland was a special place and still lives in the hearts and minds of Irving residents, and Herbert was the reason.
After closing Cooper’s Toyland Herb worked at Plymouth Park Hardware approx. 10 years. Retired, he continued working part time until 2006 when it became necessary to care for Pat with her declining health. He was 85 when he stopped working.
Herbert and Pat were members of First United Methodist Church since moving to Irving in 1950. He served that church faithfully for all of those years and was instrumental in the church’s growth. “He is the patriarch of this church” was told to Steve by one the long-time members Ann Nicholson.
Herb was a veteran of the U. S. Army, serving in San Antonio late in World War II, member and past president of the Irving Chamber of Commerce and also a member and past president of the Irving Noonday Lion’s Club. In 1959 Herb was named Irving Jaycees Young Man of the Year.
Herbert and Patsy Marie Drake were married for 67 years until her death in 2013. He was also preceded in death by his son David Grant Cooper, born 1949 and died in 1986; his brother Randall Cooper; and sister Virginia Lawrence. Those who will miss him dearly are son Steven Ray Cooper; his brother Raymond Boone Cooper; three grandchildren Angie Young, Julie Cooper Weninger, and Cory Cooper; and five great grandchildren David Young, Bailey Young, Katelyn Young, Mason Weninger, and Delaney Bumpus.
Funeral services for Herb will take place at First United Methodist Church, 211 West Third Street in Irving at 10:00 a.m., Thursday February 25, 2021. One hour prior to the service will be a time for viewing and brief visiting with the family at the church. Burial with a Service of Committal with will follow the conclusion of the church service at Oak Grove Memorial Gardens, 1413 East Irving Blvd. in Irving. At both location protocols of mask wearing and social distancing are to be observed. Attendance at the church is limited to 100 people, at the cemetery there is no set limitation.
Herbert had friends that cannot be counted. No person that ever met him had anything but praise for this man. His caring for others was always in the front of his mind. Nobody didn’t like Herbert A. Cooper.
The service will be live and link will be active, approximately 5-10 minutes before 10:00 am.
*** The service will be live and link will be active, approximately 5-10 minutes before 10:00 am. ***
CLICK HERE TO ATTEND THE SERVICE VIRTUALLY
There will be 3 options to choose from on the churches homepage - Facebook, YouTube, and Livestream.
Herbert Cooper moved to Irving, TX to open the first supermarket in the town in 1950. He was at the time the youngest manager of an A&P Supermarket in the country. He was determined to make this town and his store a success. He walked the entire town introducing himself to the businessmen and people of Irving, making a great impression on many of them. He joined the chamber of commerce and was a past president. Early in the 1950’s Irving was growing into a city, and Herbert was instrumental in the development of that city. Anyone that knew him knows his tireless efforts to promote Irving, including an old film entitled “Look out Dallas, Here Comes Irving” that he cooperated and appeared in.
In 1954 Herbert left the A&P and became partners with Phil Lindman who had opened a toy store next door to his A&P. Herbert thought of Phil and Mary Lindman as his best friends until their deaths. In 1957, Phil went on to other endeavors and left Herbert with the toy store. Cooper’s Toyland was born then.
All old Irvingites know of Cooper’s Toyland and Herbert Cooper. For 30 years, the toy store thrived and grew to 3 toy stores and 1 gift shop. Steve Cooper joined the firm in 1974 following college and became a partner with his dad in the toy business. Cooper’s Toyland was a special place and still lives in the hearts and minds of Irving residents, and Herbert was the reason.
After closing Cooper’s Toyland Herb worked at Plymouth Park Hardware approx. 10 years. Retired, he continued working part time until 2006 when it became necessary to care for Pat with her declining health. He was 85 when he stopped working.
Herbert and Pat were members of First United Methodist Church since moving to Irving in 1950. He served that church faithfully for all of those years and was instrumental in the church’s growth. “He is the patriarch of this church” was told to Steve by one the long-time members Ann Nicholson.
Herb was a veteran of the U. S. Army, serving in San Antonio late in World War II, member and past president of the Irving Chamber of Commerce and also a member and past president of the Irving Noonday Lion’s Club. In 1959 Herb was named Irving Jaycees Young Man of the Year.
Herbert and Patsy Marie Drake were married for 67 years until her death in 2013. He was also preceded in death by his son David Grant Cooper, born 1949 and died in 1986; his brother Randall Cooper; and sister Virginia Lawrence. Those who will miss him dearly are son Steven Ray Cooper; his brother Raymond Boone Cooper; three grandchildren Angie Young, Julie Cooper Weninger, and Cory Cooper; and five great grandchildren David Young, Bailey Young, Katelyn Young, Mason Weninger, and Delaney Bumpus.
Funeral services for Herb will take place at First United Methodist Church, 211 West Third Street in Irving at 10:00 a.m., Thursday February 25, 2021. One hour prior to the service will be a time for viewing and brief visiting with the family at the church. Burial with a Service of Committal with will follow the conclusion of the church service at Oak Grove Memorial Gardens, 1413 East Irving Blvd. in Irving. At both location protocols of mask wearing and social distancing are to be observed. Attendance at the church is limited to 100 people, at the cemetery there is no set limitation.
Herbert had friends that cannot be counted. No person that ever met him had anything but praise for this man. His caring for others was always in the front of his mind. Nobody didn’t like Herbert A. Cooper.
The service will be live and link will be active, approximately 5-10 minutes before 10:00 am.
*** The service will be live and link will be active, approximately 5-10 minutes before 10:00 am. ***
CLICK HERE TO ATTEND THE SERVICE VIRTUALLY
There will be 3 options to choose from on the churches homepage - Facebook, YouTube, and Livestream.