Betty Cooper

Betty Jane Cooper, age 91 years formerly of Niles, Michigan died peacefully at 2:38 p.m. on Tuesday, June 19, 2018 with family gathered around at Lenawee Medical Care Facility in Adrian, Michigan following an extended illness. Her family is grateful to the staff at Lenawee Care and Hospice of Lenawee for their compassionate and dignified attention.

She was born on December 23, 1926 in Davison, Michigan to William S. and Eathel O. (Bebee) Wadsworth, and was graduated from the Grand Blanc (Michigan) High School. She came to Niles as a young woman, and was employed at the former J. C. Penney Department Store, and the former Niles plant of Simplicity Pattern Company. She and her husband also owned and operated the Coop’s A&W Drive-In Restaurant in Nappanee, Indiana for nineteen years, until retiring in 1977.

Betty was a member of the Pokagon United Methodist Church, had been active in the restoration of the Old Rugged Cross Church, and completed several Bible study courses. She read four daily newspapers, enjoyed clipping articles to add to scrapbooks, and became the family historian. She also enjoyed completing puzzles and crosswords, crochet, and knitting.

On March 22, 1947 in Sumnerville, Michigan she married Clayson E. Cooper with whom she celebrated the forty-sixth anniversary of their wedding prior to his death on February 17, 1994. She was also preceded in death by a son-in-law, William J. Wildern III on June 8, 2016; and by her siblings, Barbara Smith, and Gerald, Floyd, Bill, and Robert Wadsworth.

Surviving family includes her children, Linda (Mrs. William) K. Wildern of Manitou Beach, Michigan and Clayson E. (& Diane) Cooper of Florida; granddaughter, Erinn (& Nick) Hess; great-grandchildren Reagan, and twins Cooper and Charleigh; and many nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Betty Cooper will be at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, June 22, 2018 at the Old Rugged Cross Church, 61041 Vermont Street, Pokagon, Michigan with the Rev. Jeffrey Whittaker of Michiana Christian Embassy officiating. Committal will follow at Mission Hills.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles. Contributions in memory of Betty may be made to The Old Rugged Cross Foundation, P.O.Box 41, Niles, MI 49120 http://www.the-oldruggedcross.org; or to the Hospice of Lenawee, 1903 Wolf Creek Highway, Adrian, MI 49221; https://www.hospiceoflenawee.org. Online condolences may be left at: www.halbritterwickens.com