Claude Everette Cooper Jr.

Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) Claude Everette Cooper Jr., 85, a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend, passed away Tuesday, February 10, 2026.

Born November 16, 1940, in Fayetteville, NC, he was a son of the late Claude Everette Cooper Sr. and Martha Lee Martin Cooper.

He was a 1958 graduate of Sumter High School and enrolled in Clemson University in the Fall of 1958. He spent two years at Clemson and then enlisted in the Army. He served as a Special Forces medic in Vietnam in 1963-64. After completing his enlisted service in the Army, he returned to Clemson University and graduated in 1967. While at Clemson, he was a member of Delta Kappa Alpha fraternity, where he developed lasting friendships with his treasured fraternity brothers. He was also a member of the Central Dance Committee and Tiger Brotherhood and served as student manager of the Clemson baseball team. Upon graduation from Clemson, he re-enlisted in the Army and attended Officer Candidate School for his commission. While at OCS, he was president of his class and later inducted into the US Army Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame. His fellow OCS classmates have remained lifelong friends.

Claude served 28 dedicated years in the United States Army. He served two tours with Special Forces units in Vietnam and also completed assignments with the 82nd Airborne Division, the 7th Special Forces Group, and ROTC. His exemplary service earned him numerous accolades, including the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars, a Purple Heart, four Meritorious Service Medals, The National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and the Master Parachutist Badge. Because of his unique opportunity to serve separate tours as an enlisted combat medic and as a commissioned combat infantryman, LTC Cooper is one of a rare breed of soldier in the history of the Army to have received both the Combat Medic Badge and Combat Infantryman Badge. These honors reflect not only his bravery but also his dedication to serving his country.

Upon retiring from the Army, he served as the Director of Administrative Support Services at Appalachian State University. In the summer of 2014, Claude and his wife, Louise, moved to Clemson. His passion for Clemson University was evident throughout his life, as he attended as many sports events as possible and held the position of head of research with Clemson Corps and chairman of the Scroll of Honor Memorial Committee. Claude was an associate member of the Clemson University Emeritus College, an honor he received due to his academic service at ASU along with his long relationship with Clemson Corps.

Claude was also an author. He wrote four books: a memoir titled "Leavings: Honeycutt to Cooper Ridge;” "Finding Strong," co-written with his daughter, Leigh Cooper Wallace; "Deacs," a history of his local Clemson Fraternity; and "G.O.A.T.S of Clemson Baseball,” an opinion piece of Clemson's best baseball players and teams from 1896 until 2022.

In his leisure time, Claude enjoyed a variety of hobbies which included reading, completing jigsaw puzzles, and tackling word puzzles. Claude and Louise cherished their time with children and grandchildren. One of his favorite family times would be the 40 years of annual beach trips with his large extended family.

Claude is survived by his devoted wife of almost 58 years, Louise Dickert Cooper; his children Julie Cooper Hodge (Sam Rose) and her children Riley and Regan; Holley Cooper (Dana Baker) and their children Cadence and Cori Quick, and Zoe and Juliet Larrick; and Graig Cooper (Silvia Munari) and their children, Auburn Cooper, and Oliver and Sofia Munari-Cooper; his son-in-law Chris Wallace (Arleen) and his children Jacob Wallace (Jordan) and their children Lynleigh and Keenan, and Haleigh Wallace Parker (Rob).

He is also survived by his sisters Gail Harvin, Nancy Nohrenberg, and Pam Dean, and his brother Mike Cooper, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and loving friends.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his beloved daughter Leigh Cooper Wallace who passed in 2012.

A memorial service in honor of Claude will be held Saturday, February 28, 2026, at 11:00 AM at First Baptist Church of Clemson, 397 College Ave, Clemson, SC 29631. A visitation will be held in the Family Life Center following the service.

Memorial contributions in memory of Claude Cooper may be made to one of the following. If desired, acknowledgements to Louise can be sent to the funeral home at 108 Cross Creek Road, Central, SC 29630.

Leigh Cooper Wallace Scholarship, ASU Gift Processing Office, ASU Box 32014, Boone, NC 28608-2014 (or online at givenow.appstate.edu)

Clemson Corps Quasi-Endowment for Air Force/Army Grants-in-Aid, Clemson University Foundation, Annual Giving Office, PO Box 1889, Clemson, SC 29633-1889 (or by phone at 864-656-5896)

First Baptist Church of Clemson, 397 College Avenue, Clemson, SC 29631 (or by email to Bobby McGill at fbcc397@gmail.com)

Please visit RobinsonFuneralHomes.com or Duckett-Robinson Funeral Home & Crematory, Central-Clemson Commons.