Chariton Herald Patriot; Chariton IA; 2004-7-8

    CHARITON H-P    CHARITON, IA    JULY 8, 2004
    COOPER, RUBY PEARL

    Ruby Pearl Cooper, age 85, was born in Winterset, Iowa Dec. 9, 1918.
She was the daughter of Walter Spencer and Verdie Bell Lake, a family
of 11 children, three boys and eight girls.
    Ruby was married to Alvin Marion Cooper March 23, 1940.  To this
union two children were born, Pam and Craig.
    Ruby worked at the North Side Cafe in Winterset, later at Campbell's
Health Food Store in Des Moines.  Ruby was the first cook at the Lucas
School hot lunch program.  In 1961, Ruby and Alvin became administrators
of the Lucas County Homes, where she worked until her retirement in 1981.
Ruby and Alvin moved to Lucas in 1951, where she lived until 1988, when
she moved to Harlan, Iowa and lived with Pam and her family until 1999,
when she became a resident of Chariton Nursing and Rehab Center until
her death.
    Ruby loved to cook and sew.  She loved to play cards.  If you
did not want to lose, you should not play four-point pitch with her.
She loved to spend time with her family: husband Alvin, children Pam and
Craig and especially her grandchildren: Ruby, Angela, Amanda and Randy.
    She is survived by her children Pam Clyde and husband Terry, Craig
Cooper and wife Jana, all of Russell; and grandchildren: Ruby and Randy
Clyde, Angela and Amanda Cooper.  She is also survived by one sister,
Letha Gifford of Warren, Ohio.
    Funeral services for Ruby were held Friday, July 2, 2004, at Fielding
Funeral Home with Pastor Tony Pulatie officiating.  Bearers were Johnny
Atkins, Mike Dean, Jeff McDonald, Rod Clark, Dennis Ham and Bruce Woods.
Interment was in the Chariton Cemetery.
    Memorials may be made to the Lucas Iowa Community Center.