Vivian Harner Cooper

Vivian Harner Cooper, the widow of Joe Price Cooper, died Tuesday, December 10, a month after celebrating her 98th birthday at Carriage Hill Retirement in Bedford, Virginia.

She was born on November 5, 1926, in Ceres, Virginia, to the late William Ray Harner and Floy Repass Harner.

Mrs. Cooper graduated from Ceres High School and the University of Virginia school of nursing, where she was a member of the cadet nurse corps during World War II. She and her husband wrote each other multiple times a week while he served in North Africa, Italy and France. They married in December 1945, two months after he was discharged from the army,

She worked as a registered nurse for more than 40 years, first at T.K. McKee Hospital in Saltville until it closed and then at Smyth County Community Hospital in Marion until her retirement.

She was a member of Roberts Chapel United Methodist Church in Broadford and active with its youth fellowship and in the church’s women’s club. She served as the church treasurer for many years.

Mrs. Cooper is survived by her children, Alan Cooper and wife Maureen of Richmond and Judy VanWinkle and husband Jim of Bedford, and by grandchildren Matthew VanWinkle of Pocatello, Idaho, Janna Pryce and husband Ricky of Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Amy Cooper and husband Alex Dimen of Richmond.

She is also survived by a great-granddaughter, Maya Pryce, of Bridgeport, and by great- grandsons Benjamin and Oliver Dimen of Richmond.

Four of Mrs. Cooper’s six siblings predeceased her: Hope McMechen of Carlton, Georgia; Max Harner of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Norma Rush of Riverview, Florida; and Gilda Countiss of Abingdon.

Two sisters, Janice Guynn of Woodbine, Maryland, and Shirley Bishop of Fredericksburg, survive her.

Visitation will be at 1 p.m. on December 17 at D.R. Henderson Funeral Home in Saltville, followed by a funeral at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Donnie Bailey officiating. Burial will be at Zion Methodist Church Cemetery in Ceres.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Roberts Chapel United Methodist Church, 3877 Blue Grass Trail, Saltville, Virginia 24370.

D.R Henderson Funeral Home and Tharp Funeral Home, Bedford are assisting the family.