In lieu of flowers, please send donations in the name of Marva Cooper to River City Hospice (River City Hospice Foundation, P.O. Box 20595, Beaumont, TX 77720, 1-877-537-4837).

Marva Cooper was born in Michigan City, Indiana on May 9, 1936 to Marvin and Pansy Haas. After her mother died when she was very young, her father married Gladys Erickson, who formally adopted her. Marva graduated from I. C. Elston High School. Determined to attend college, she worked and saved the money necessary to pay her way through Ball State University, where she earned her teaching degree. While there, she joined Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority and was president of Panhellenics. Upon her graduation, she went to Hawaii where she attended graduate school, then moved to Puerto Rico to teach kindergarten. While in Puerto Rico, she met the love of her life and married 2nd Lt. Charles Cooper, USAF, passing under an arch of swords on March 19, 1964. They loved to travel and visited most of the Virgin Islands before their first daughter, Linda, was born. She continued to teach kindergarten and was a fabulous teacher, who desired only for each child maximize their potential. She was loved by the children and parents alike while being respected by her peers. When Charley was transferred to Florida, they moved their young family to Tallahassee where her teaching career ended and they welcomed their second daughter, Sandy. Following Charley’s assignments, the family lived in Montgomery, Alabama; Bangkok, Thailand; and Universal City, Texas, where Charley retired. Their love for travel never dimmed, and she was so proud to have visited Sweden (from where her family immigrated) and Russia. More than once she said, “It’s amazing to think that a little girl from Indiana could have done and seen all that I have.”

Marva had many interests including singing in the Skylarks, playing bridge with both day and night groups, singing in the church choir, serving on the Altar Guild, reading, and instilling strong values in her daughters. She was a tremendous homemaker, and an even better friend, and enjoyed hosting many parties in her home. She and Charley were long time members of the Church of the Resurrection, Episcopal, in San Antonio. Later in life, she became very prominent in helping to raise two of her grandchildren, making sure they were prepared for life and graduated from high school.

After the death of her beloved husband Charley, she moved to the Army Residence Community in San Antonio where she met many friends, participated in numerous activities, and lived in a safe and loving community. She especially enjoyed playing canasta and joining the Lunch Bunch, a group that took buses to local restaurants for lunch. Shortly after celebrating her 90th birthday with her family, she battled a short, difficult period before succumbing to her illness on October 22, 2026. She had 90 happy and fulfilling years and will be missed dearly.

She is survived by her daughter Linda Fletcher and her husband Patrick Fletcher of Rockwall, Texas, daughter Sandra Cooper of Universal City, grandchildren Brandon Cooper, Brandy Cooper, Sean Fletcher and his wife Anne Marie Fletcher, Deacon Kyle Fletcher, and three great grandchildren Matthew, Lucy, and Michael Fletcher, children of Sean and Anne Marie. She is also survived by her sister Dr. Mary Haas of Morgantown, West Virginia, niece Cate Bennett of Silver Springs, Maryland, and other nieces and nephews.

Marva’s funeral will be held on Friday, November 13, 2026 at the Church of the Resurrection with viewing at 10:00 a.m., followed by a funeral service at 11:00 a.m., and burial at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery at 1:30 pm.