Wilma Darlene Cooper passed away July 7, 2018 with treasured family by her side. Born to Edna Marie Dunn Woodfin, the second of twin girls, on May 12, 1928. In her own words, “What a great, adventuresome life.”
She was blessed with a wonderful mother, twin sister and married the love of her life, Blynn C. Cooper. They celebrated 72 years of marriage together. She said, “How lucky can one get?” In 1943 during World War II, at the age of 15, working two jobs and going to high school, she met Blynn. They married 3 years later at ages 18 and 21, after the war.
They spent eight years in Seattle where Blynn worked as a policeman. Then they changed their life direction and bought a dairy farm, loved it and worked hard while raising three daughters. They entertained a constant stream of family and friends who enjoyed coming to share the farm experience. Blynn broke his back eight years later, so they had to sell the farm and change the course of their lives again.
Blynn and Wilma took their three teenage daughters to Australia for the opportunity to be educated in other cultures and compare what they experienced with life in the United States. Wilma was homesick, but as in every challenge she faced in her life, she moved forward and thrived. Blynn fished for prawns while Wilma impressed the Aussie men by learning to mend fishing nets. She also managed a coffee shop/milk bar.
They returned to the US in 1967, with Blynn fishing in Alaska and then becoming the supervisor at Fisherman’s Terminal in Seattle. Wilma began a 20 years career with Sears Roebuck mail order, the last ten years as the supervisor of 50 people.
Once retired, they moved to Anacortes, WA, where she volunteered at the Visitor’s Center – welcoming folks from around the world to Anacortes and the San Juan Islands. She supervised a large group of volunteers for 25 years, retiring in 2017. She loved her community and her volunteers and she was equally as loved by them, with the city installing a bench in her honor outside the center.
Wilma was a loving person who will be greatly missed.
Wilma is survived by her best friend and husband of 72 years, Blynn, twin sister Patricia Freeman, daughter Teresa Cooper, grandchildren Christie (Kevin) Lo, James (Ina) Shepard and Brenda (Justin) Falk, her great grandchildren, Cole, Cade, Kira, Kai and Tory and her numerous friends.
A celebration of life for family and friends to honor Wilma will be announced at a later date. Family and friends are encouraged to share memories and condolences at www.whidbeymemorial.com.