Mary E. Cooper, 86, of Bellefontaine, Ohio and formerly of Belle Center, Ohio, passed away Sunday, August 1, 2010 at Mary Rutan Hospital in Bellefontaine. She was born February 15, 1924 in McGuffey, Ohio to the late Ithemore G. �Ike� and Emma Mae (Evans) Wilcox. 

On July 17, 1945 she married Richard Cooper in West Liberty, Ohio, and he preceded her in death July 2, 1973. Also preceding her in death was a son, Jerry Cooper; a daughter, Barbara Wannemacher; brothers, Henry, Harold, Harry and Isaac Wilcox; and sisters, Hazel Carr and Helen Dawson. 

Surviving are three sons, Donald (Susan) Cooper of Lexington, Ohio, Steven (Karen Moon) Cooper and Norman (Tammy) Cooper both of Bellefontaine; a sister, Eva Buffenbarger Walper of Waynesfield, Ohio; ten grandchildren and several great grandchildren. 

Mary was an active member of the New Richland Baptist Church and loved being with her family. She was a homemaker and worked at the Indian Lake Middle School for fifteen years as a cook. 

Pastor William Russell will conduct the funeral service at 1:00 P.M. Friday, August 6, 2010 at the Eichholtz Funeral Home in Bellefontaine, where calling hours are from 2 to 4 P.M. and 6 to 8 P.M. Thursday, August 5, 2010. Burial will be in the Huntsville Cemetery in Huntsville, Ohio. 

Memorial contributions may be made to the New Richland Baptist Church  8651 Co Rd 39  Belle Center, OH 43310