Ronald Lee Cooper

Jan 26, 1931 -

Nov 4, 2025

Beloved father and grandfather Ronald Lee "Ron" Cooper passed away on Nov. 4, 2025, after an extended illness.

Ron was born on Jan. 26, 1931, in Longview, Wash., to Thelma (Embley) Cooper and Butler Cooper. He was the second of two brothers.

He attended high school in Salmon, Idaho, while working two or three jobs to pay for his room and board and send money home to his family. In Salmon, he met Mary Ann Benson and they married in 1950. The couple moved back to Longview, where their three children were born.

The family moved to Alaska in 1956, driving the Alcan Highway in their old Nash Rambler. When they got to Anchorage, Alaska, Ron commented to several people that he had heard that the road was bad, and he was still waiting to find the bad road! They settled in Anchorage and in 1959 founded Central Plumbing and Heating.

Ron was active in the Alaska Mechanical Contractors' Association and the Plumbers' and Pipefitters' Union. In his spare time, he enjoyed gardening, hunting, fishing, hockey and cribbage.

Ron was preceded in death by Mary Ann, his wife of 65 years. He is survived by his three children and their spouses, Dianne (Larry) Velasquez, Jeff (Cindy) Cooper and Mike (Debbie) Cooper; eight grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren, with a set of twins on the way.

Ron was well known in Anchorage for gladly lending assistance to anyone who needed it. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Food Bank of Alaska, 3192 Viking Drive, Anchorage, AK 99501.

The Cooper family wishes to thank Opus Memoria in Anchorage for their outstanding care of Ron during his final illness.