Carl F. Cooper

Carl F. Cooper, 94, retired Pine Bluff banker and businessman, died Saturday, April 2. Born in Dyer, Tenn., Jan. 11, 1917, a son of the late Carl C. and Effie Hatley Cooper, he was reared and educated in Tennessee and Pine Bluff, graduating from Jackson (TN) High School. He farmed at Cornerstone and Meroney, Ark., as a young man for his aunt and uncle, then worked for a few years in the farm equipment business. During this time he learned to fly at Toney Field in Pine Bluff and became a flight instructor. He married Lois Payne on Oct. 18, 1942 in Pine Bluff. Mrs. Cooper died in 2003. Mr. Cooper served in the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II from Feb. 13, 1943 to Nov. 1, 1945. Serving in the Pacific Theatre, he was a pilot, flight instructor, and first lieutenant stationed with the 555th AAF Base Unit. Members of his unit and others were known as "Hump Pilots" for their work transporting strategic materials by air from India and Burma to China over the Himalayas. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with oak leaf cluster, and Air Service Medal with two bronze service stars. Mr. and Mrs. Cooper traveled to Taiwan in 1985 with 320 members of the Hump Pilots Association for the fortieth anniversary of V-J Day. Returning to Pine Bluff, Mr. Cooper worked for Production Credit Association until he joined National Bank of Commerce in Pine Bluff as an agricultural loan officer in 1963. He became a member of the bank's board of directors, was named NBC's president in 1982, and retired March 6, 1984. He was a member of the Arkansas and American Banking Associations and taught in the banking schools at SMU and LSU. Following his banking career, he managed Southern Compress operations here for several years. He was a member of First Baptist Church, Pine Bluff Rotary Club (1963-1996, serving terms as president and secretary, receiving the club's Harvey W. McGeorge Award). A community leader, he served on the board of directors of Jefferson Regional Medical Center (1979-1992, also serving a term as president), Wright-Pastoria Water Association (1978-1990), Jefferson County Industrial Foundation, United Way (serving as president and annual drive chair, receiving their Outstanding Service Award in 1969), and Salvation Army Advisory Board. His survivors include a daughter, Lois Ann Holthoff of Gould, Ark.; daughter-in-law, Jennie Railsback Cooper of Little Rock; sister, Mildred Biry of San Antonio, Texas; grandchildren, Rachel Holthoff, Laura Holthoff, Byron Neil Holthoff Jr., Carl F. "Trey" Cooper III and wife Mary, Seth Cooper and wife Ashley; and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, C. Frederic "Fred" Cooper Jr., and his brother, Frank Cooper. Services are Tuesday, April 5, 2 p.m., First Baptist Church of Pine Bluff. Visitation is Monday, April 4, 4 to 6 p.m. at Ralph Robinson and Son. Memorials are requested to UAMS Cancer Research or the American Heart Association. Online register: www.ralphrobinsonandson.com.