Extracted from The Times-Herald (Vallejo, CA)
Sunday, January 27, 2008

Elda Cooper

Dec. 7, 1936 - Jan. 19, 2008

Elda ``Lee'' Cooper, 71, of Benicia, passed away Saturday at a local hospital after a brief illness. He was born in El Dorado, Oklahoma, lived in the Rollingwood neighborhood of San Pablo for more than 25 years before moving to Benicia in 1973. Lee worked as a planner & estimator at Mare Island Naval Shipyard for more than 35 years before retiring in 1991. Lee was a graduate of Richmond High School, class of 1954. He was a member of the California Wildlife Association, Ducks Unlimited, Ibis Duck Club and was a former baseball coach with his brother Jim for the Benicia Little League.

He is survived by his wife Marilyn of Benicia; daughter Kristen (Dave) Barich, and their son Dominic of Antioch; brother Jim (Cindy) Cooper of Benicia; stepchildren, Terrianne Stjern of South Carolina and Paris and Sean Breaux of Sonora; 13 grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his beloved black lab, Raven.

Memorial services will be held 11 a.m., Friday, Feb. 1 at Passalacqua Funeral Chapel, 901 West Second St., Benicia. Family prefers donations to the Preservation of California Wetlands, c/o Ducks Unlimited, 3074 Gold Canal Drive, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670, www.ducks.org.