Ralph Landon Cooper, 92, of Bay City, Texas passed away Wednesday morning in Bay City. He was born June 1, 1919 in New Orleans, Louisiana to John L. and Eva Rodgers Cooper.

Mr. Cooper grew up in DeRidder, LA. He graduated from DeRidder High School in 1937. He went to work for the Long Bell Lumber Co. at the DeRidder Plant in 1937 as a laborer, and by 1941 was promoted to yard foreman. In March 1942, he enlisted in the US Army Corps of Engineers, and went through training at Camp Clairborne, LA. In August 1942 he was shipped overseas to England. Prior to D-Day, his Engineer Regiment built warehouses and supply depots in England, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. On D-Day, plus 22, his company landed in Europe at Cherbourg with the mission of rebuilding the port. On July 14, 1942 he received a battlefield promotion to 2nd lieutenant. He was wounded during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944, evacuated to England, and eventually to a hospital in Longview, Texas. He was separated from active duty in October 1945, and returned to work at Long Bell in Joplin, Missouri. He was plant superintendent until 1955 when he was transferred to Houston, TX as a sales representative. In 1963 he was moved back to DeRidder, and was promoted to Plant Manager at the plant, which was now owned by International Paper. In 1971, he moved to Mobile, AL as manager of the Wood Products Division. He retired in 1979 and moved to Woodville, Texas, and then to DeRidder in 1984.

In March 1945 Ralph married Mary Julia Mims of Marthaville, Louisiana; after her death in December 1983, he remarried to Eunice Youngblood of DeRidder in June 1984.

He is survived by his 4 sisters, Lorraine, Poppy, Billie and Betty; daughter Mary Catherine Harris and husband Don of Boerne, TX; 2 sons Ralph L. Cooper II (Rusty) and wife Rosella of Sweeny, TX and Robert Winn Cooper and wife Leah of Jefferson, TX; 5 granddaughters, Julia Cooper, Katrina Vespe, Diane Greene, Capt. Megan Cooper, USAF, and Rebecca Cooper; 6 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews, and by his niece and special friend Lorraine Kerbow and her family of DeRidder, Louisiana.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Eva Cooper; 2 brothers John and Wellborn; sister Jeanette; first wife Mary Mims Cooper, and second wife Eunice Youngblood Cooper.

The family will receive visitors Friday, October 28, 2011 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Taylor Bros. Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held 10:00 AM Saturday, October 29, 2011 at Taylor Bros. Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Magnolia Cemetery in Woodville, Texas at 3:30 PM on Saturday.