Lila G.
Cooper
Hinsdale,
NY—Lila G.
Cooper of 3819 Main St. died Monday (March 24, 2008) in the Pines
Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Machias after a short illness.
Born
October 26,
1911 in Hinsdale, NY she was the daughter of Frederick C. and Zetta
Edwards Grambow. On June 29, 1938 in Cuba, NY she married Charles M.
Cooper who died June 13, 1975.
Mrs.
Cooper was a
1928 graduate of Hinsdale Union School and of the Olean Teachers’
Training Class of 1929. She was also a 1935 graduate of Geneseo Normal
School and then received her Bachelors of Science degree at SUNY
Geneseo in 1958.
She
started teaching
in a one-room school on Dutch Hill in 1929 and became a teacher at
Hinsdale Central School in 1934. After her marriage she taught for 2
½
years (1941-43) at Daggett Hollow School near Obi. She returned to
Hinsdale Central School in 1943, continuing there until her retirement
in June 1972 after 40 ½ years of teaching.
In 1970
she was
listed in “Outstanding Teachers of America.” She had been a member of
the NYS Retired Teachers Association for many years and was also
Historian of the Hinsdale Alumni Association.
She had
been a
member of the Hinsdale United Methodist Church since 1932 and had
served as a trustee and treasurer. She formerly taught Sunday school
for 40 years and was a member of the United Methodist Women. She had
been a 50 year member of Hinsdale Rebekah Lodge #549 and the Past Noble
Grand’s Club of Cattaraugus County, was Past District Deputy President
of Cattaraugus Rebekah District #1 and was currently a member of
Allegany Rebekah Lodge #407 having received her 75 year jewel from them
in 2004. She had been a Past Matron of McKee Chapter #212, Order of the
Eastern Star in Cuba, NY.
She was
a charter
member and past president of Alpha Sigma Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma
International, and was a member and past regent of Olean Chapter,
National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. She was
currently serving as treasurer of the Hinsdale Cemetery Association, a
position she had held since 1945.
After
her retirement
from teaching, she taught quilt making at the YMCA, BOCES and Olean
Night School. She was a member of the Southern Tier Quilt Guild, the
Olean General Hospital Auxiliary and she had been a volunteer in the
RSVP program since 1977.
Her
other interests
included genealogy and local history where in 2006 she was awarded a
Certification as Registered Historian from the Association of Public
Historians of New York State. She had published many newspaper and
magazine articles and wrote a book “Hinsdale, My Home Town”. She had
been the Hinsdale Town Historian since 1971 and was a member of the
Hinsdale Historical Association and the Cattaraugus County Historical
Association.
She
enjoyed doll
collecting and was a member of the SWNY-Penn Doll Club. She was a
member of the Hinsdale Guys and Gals and the Busyette Craft Club. Other
interests included reading, Bible Study, crossword puzzles and crypto-
quotes, crocheting, needlework and especially her family. She traveled
extensively, visiting all states except Alaska, as well as Canada,
Mexico, Europe, Egypt and Israel.
Surviving
are 5
nephews, one of whom, David A. (Elaine) Brown of Webster, NY came to
live with Mr. and Mrs. Cooper in 1951. Their 3 children are Mark A.
(Mary Jo) Brown of Latham, NY and their 2 sons Andrew and Gregory,
David S. Brown of Buffalo and Christopher (Kara) Brown of Chicago, IL;
4 other nephews Robert J. Brown of Emporium, PA, Floyd L. (Roberta)
Brown of Cuyahoga Falls, OH, Walter F. (Margaret) Grambow of Commack,
NY and Dr. Richard C. (Barbara) Grambow of Loveland, OH; 1 niece-in-law
Ploma Raub of West Henrietta, NY; 25 great nieces and nephews and 39
great-great nieces and nephews.
Family
members who
predeceased her in addition to her husband and parents include 2
sisters Nina Raub and her husband Herman of Hinsdale and Gertrude Brown
and her husband Floyd of Emporium, PA; 2 brothers Frederick J. Grambow
and his wife Isabelle of Port Charlotte, FL and Chandler Grambow and
his wife Olive of Hinsdale; 2 nephews Gerald Raub and his wife Ruth of
Allegany and Donald Raub of West Henrietta, NY; 2 nieces Rosamond Raub
Daniels and her husband Jerry of Port Allegany, PA. and Betty Brown
Hollingsworth and her husband Harry of Akron, OH; a niece-in-law
Barbara Moscato Brown of Emporium, PA; a great niece Sandra Raub
Mitchell of Alpena, MI and a great great nephew Lee Castillo of
Waterville, Maine.
Friends
will be
received at the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home 3128 W. State
Rd. Olean Wednesday from 7-9pm and Thursday from 2-4 & 7-9pm.
Funeral and committal services will be held Friday (March 28, 2008) at
11:00am at the Hinsdale United Methodist Church. Interim pastor Darlene
L. Smiley will officiate. Burial will be in Hinsdale Cemetery.
Members
of the
Allegany Rebekah Lodge #407 will hold a memorial service Thursday at
7:30pm in the funeral home. Memorials may be directed to the Hinsdale
United Methodist Church or to the Hinsdale Central School Alumni
Scholarship Fund c/o Diana Dutton, Hinsdale, NY 14743.
From Casey,
Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home
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