Obituary of Leonard Anthony Cooper

COLUMBIA: Leonard Anthony Cooper, 73, of Columbia, passed away on April 2, 2013 peacefully in his sleep. A graveside service will be held at 12:00 P.M. (Noon), on Friday, April 5, 2013 in Greenlawn Memorial Park, Serenity Gardens, 6601 Windwan Drive, Columbia, SC 29209, with Chaplain Michelle W. Robinson officiating. The family will receive friends for one hour prior to service at Greenlawn Funeral Home, 845 Leesburg Road, Columbia, SC 29209. Leonard was born in Pittsburgh, PA on February 27, 1940. He graduated from Miami Sr. High School and continued on to receive a Bachelors and Master's degree from the University of Florida. Leonard retired from the South Carolina Commission for the Blind, where one of the highlights of his career was job placement for the blind. He enjoyed traveling, completing projects, listening to music, and ordering dinner in and talking with his wife over a variety of subjects. Leonard never missed a circus performance when they came to Columbia. Leonard is survived by his three brothers: George Cooper and his wife Marilyn of St Petersburg, FL, James (Jim) Cooper of Fort Myers, FL, and Richard Cooper of Bradenton, FL; one sister, Elizabeth Smith of Lawrenceville, GA; two step-sons, Michael Jones and his wife Denise of Clinton, SC and Mark Jones of Forest Acres; four grandchildren: Amber Jones and Rachael Jones of Richlands, NC, and Joshua Jones and Caleb Jones of Havelock, NC; sister-in-law, Patricia Graham and brothers-in-law, Claude Graham and Henry Wilson, all of West Columbia. Leonard was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Mary Cooper, his parents, as well as his brother, Dennis Cooper. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the South Carolina Commission for the Blind - Older Blind Program, ATTN: Finance Department, P.O. Box 2467, Columbia, SC 29202. The family wishes to share their gratitude with the entire staff in