Obituary of Francis Edwin Cooper

Mr. Francis Edwin "Ed" Cooper, 89, of Banner Elk, passed away Thursday, May 20, 2021. He was a native of Roaring Gap and the son of the late Mason R. and Edna Abbiati Cooper. He graduated from Mineral Springs High School in Winston-Salem, and attended Lees-McRae College and Guilford College. A Korean War veteran, he was a Staff Sergeant in the US Air Force serving as a Weather Observer. Ed worked as a draftsman with the Bahnson Company in Winston-Salem for many years before retiring to Banner Elk. He was a faithful member of Arbor Dale Presbyterian Church. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Sandra "Sandy" Rominger Cooper, and a granddaughter, Abigail Cooper. He is survived by one son, Michael Cooper and wife Beth of Suffolk, Virginia, and one daughter, Lisa Cockman and husband Jim of Winston-Salem and four grandchildren, Bobby Cooper and wife Allison of Rustburg, VA, Jeffrey Cooper and Juliana Cooper both of Suffolk, VA, and Megan C. Burnett and husband Joey of Hendersonville, NC. Graveside services for Francis Edwin "Ed" Cooper will be conducted Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. in the Matney-Liberty Community Cemetery with the Rev. Tee Gatewood officiating. Memorials may be made to Life Care Center of Banner Elk, 185 Norwood Hollow Road, Banner Elk, N.C. 28604 and/or Arbor Dale Presbyterian Church, 6619 Hickory Nut Gap Road, Banner Elk, N.C. 28604. Online condolences may be shared with the Cooper family at the website www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com. Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Cooper family.