COOPER, Charles Clarence - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Charles Clarence Cooper, was born at Greenhill, Ind Sept 5, 1893 and passed to his eternal reward Saturday morning Jan 29, 1955 aged 61 years 4 months 24 days. Charley as he was known to all his host of friends was a keen student of history and national and international affairs.  As a young student in the grades, Charley was active in the affairs of Hillsboro.  He was a member of debating teams of much older men than himself and distinguished himself as a good speaker. Charley was one of the boys who organized the Sons of Daniel Boone the forerunner of the Boy Scouts of America. A regular attender at the local Sunday School he acted as Sunday School Superintendent on various occasions in his early years.  Called upon frequently in later life to address Church, American Legion and other groups, he always gave a learned and forceful presentation.  Upon graduation from HS, Charley attended Teachers College and taught at Indiana University was a Sigma Chi and graduated from an accredited college in account in Cleveland, Ohio. He enlisted in the Army as a volunteer early after the outbreak of World War I.  He served with distinction in France and returned to Indianapolis after the war, taking an active part in the YMCA and for a time was employed by the Gibson Company.  He was united in marriage to Mildred Dye on June 18, 1927 and to this union was born one son, Charles Rector Cooper who preceded his father in death on Feb 16, 1951 and one daughter Caryl Faith Cooper a student in Purdue University.  Shortly after their marriage Charley and Mildred moved to Hillsboro, remodeled and lived in the Cooper family home on Parke Ave. Charley was a charter member of Memorial Post 188   of the American Legion , was chaplain of the post on numerous occasions and performed the graveside rites for a number of Legionnaires and veterans. Altho preferring the simple rites himself, he did a masterful job of ritual work for his “Buddies” who preceded him to “that realm where their football make no sound.”  He passed the Civil Service Examination and started carrying mail in 1924.  Charley was imbued with military spirit of loyal and that “The Mail Must Go Thru” and for 31 years thru baking sun, over muddy and near impassable roads; thru deep snow at zero temperatures his mail was never stopped.  Many times the residents on his route had seen him carrying his mail bag over his shoulder across the field when his car was stalled in a snow drift. Charley could be seen at the Men’s Loyalty Group of the Christian Church at the Compliment Club of the Methodist Church, helping with the Boosters Club and always lending a helping hand in any genuinely worthwhile charitable enterprise in the community. Charles Clarence Cooper was a part of Hillsboro. A member of the Masonic Lodge, the Knights of Pythias, the Rural Mail Carriers Association and Memorial Post No 188 American Legion of Hillsboro. To all worthy organizations he gave of himself without stint and his work with his American Legion Post as Service Officer for many years ia a tribute to his generosity his energetic personality and his rare talent for detail.  Charley’s life can be summed up in the words of St. Paul: “

Well done, good and faithful servant, Enter though into the joys of thy Lord.” Written by Maurice H. Williams. – kbz