Colleen Valoyce Phillips Cooper, 96, formerly of Ponca City, died Thursday, February 3, 2022, in Bartlesville.

Colleen was born on February 7, 1925, in Shawnee, OK, to Edward Earl Phillips and Ida Mae Thomas Phillips. Colleen was a lifelong resident of Ponca City, living in her house for 73 years before moving to Bartlesville in June 2021. She graduated from Ponca City High school in 1942.

Colleen married William Gibson Cooper on December 25, 1942, at the First Baptist Church parsonage in Ponca City. Their union lasted 53 years until Bill’s death on January 19, 1996.

While William was serving with the U. S. Army Second Battalion 359th Infantry, 90th Division, including General Patton’s third army at the Battle of the Bulge, Colleen joined the war effort as a Rosie the Riveter. She worked at Beechcraft in Wichita, KS, assembling airplane gas tanks and operating machinery to assemble trainers and smaller aircraft. She was later employed in the circulation department of The Ponca City News.

Colleen was a member of the Class of 1942 Reunion committee, VFW Auxiliary and Disabled American Veterans, Pleasantview Baptist Church.

She enjoyed reading, traveling, flowers, and bird watching. Each summer Bill and Colleen had a huge vegetable garden.

Colleen is survived by her daughter, Teresa Dodson of Bartlesville; and two sons, William G. Cooper Jr. and his wife Sharon of Northlake, TX, and Chris E. Cooper and wife Carrie of Bartlesville; a sister, Idaleen Arrington of Ponca City; grandchildren, Tony Cooper and wife Julie of Prosper, TX, Jennifer Richmond of Northlake, TX, Andy Cooper and wife Carrie of Piedmont, OK, Christy Olivas and husband Fernando of Wichita, KS, Clay Cooper and wife Ziva of Bartlesville, and Sam Dodson and wife Whitney of Broken Arrow; and great-grandchildren, Caden Cooper, Ty Cooper, Ava Richmond, Sophia Cooper, Cliff Cooper, Lucy Cooper, Clara Olivas, and Levi Olivas; and many nieces and nephews. Colleen was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; infant son, Robin; her parents; sisters, Jacqueline Baker, Earline Arrington, Joleen Harrison; brothers, Gene Phillips and Doug Phillips.

Pallbearers will be Tony Cooper, Andy Cooper, Clay Cooper, Fernando Olivas, Caden Cooper and Ty Cooper.

Visitation will be held at the Davis Family Funeral Home – Dewey Chapel, 918- 534-3030, 113 S. Osage (Hwy. 75), Dewey, on Sunday, February 13, from noon-5 p.m.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Hospice of North Central Oklahoma, 445 Fairview Ave., Ponca City, OK 74601, or Comforting Hands Hospice, 1366 SE Washington Blvd #A, Bartlesville, OK 74006.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, February 14, in the Fireside Room of the Carolyn Renfro Center at the Hospice of North Central Oklahoma in Ponca City. Interment will follow at the Resthaven-Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery, located on Hubbard Road in Ponca City. Services are under the direction of Carter Davis and the Davis Family Funeral Home – Dewey Chapel. Online condolences and remembrances may be shared at www.DavisFamilyFuneralHome.com.

Paid Obituary