Dr. William Isaac Cooper's Obituary
William Isaac Cooper, MD (81) of Tulsa, OK, passed away peacefully on January 30th, 2024. William (Bill) Cooper was born on March 20th, 1942 in Providence Hospital in Washington D.C. He was the 2nd of three children born to Dr. Robert and Carrye Cooper. Bill’s birth brought the hand-written congratulations of President Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, for whom his mother would frequently sing. His childhood was filled with annual trips to Georgia, frequent visits to the Smithsonian National Zoo, and countless youthful adventures.
Bill attended school in Washington D.C. with his brother, Robert (Bobby) and sister Carrye. His propensity for learning and artistic gifting became apparent at an early age as he excelled in his subject matter and made a perfect score on his SATs. He graduated from American University with a degree in Biology/Pre-Med. He married his college sweetheart, Patricia Parker, and had two children: Myra and Robert. After graduation, he joined the Air Force and served at Andrews Air Force Base during the Vietnam War. He attended medical school in Guadalajara, Mexico and later transferred to the George Washington University Medical School. He completed residency training in Georgia in the field of Obstetrics/Gynecology (OBGYN) and married Paula Raso, MD, a fellow OBGYN. He received additional specialized training at King's College in Cambridge University, England in the new field of In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF). Bill had several patented medical inventions used in ground-breaking embryology treatments. He always attributed his high success rate in the field of fertility to his faith in the Lord. Bill and Paula had four children: Paula, Christina, Dominick, and William. Together they owned and operated the Christian Fertility Institute in Easton, PA. A year after unexpectedly losing his wife Paula, Bill met and married Carol Cerulli, an itinerant minister from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Bill and Carol were married for 25 years. During that time, they devoted their lives to sharing the gospel and traveled to over 40 countries, teaching and preaching in churches and Bible schools.
Bill had a vivacious sense of humor, incomparable wittiness, and unwavering faith. He lived his life as though everyday was an adventure and found humor and beauty in everyday happenings. A true renaissance man excelling in science, the arts, writing poetry, piloting small planes, and speaking multiple languages. He was bold, determined, and strong-willed. He will forever be remembered for his brilliance and devotion to the Lord. He will also be remembered for his eccentric side, including adding sugar to his Coca-Cola, conducting home science experiments, concocting innovative drinks and salad dressings, and leaving small animal sculptures in public places for strangers to find. Until his stroke in 2010, he was always spry and energetic, but even afterwards he maintained a cheeky and upbeat demeanor. Everyone who knew him was impressed by his joy, faith, and fullness of life.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Ulsh Cooper, MD and Carrye (Johnson), his brother Robert (Bobby) Cooper, his second wife, Paula Raso Cooper, MD, and his third wife, Carol Cerulli Cooper. His remaining family members include his sister Carrye Elizabeth Cooper, his daughter Myra Lisa Cooper, his son Robert Baskin Cooper and his wife Nelia, daughter Paula Cooper Milne and her husband Phil (children Cooper and Robin), daughter Christina Theresa Bravata and her husband Kurt (children Joseph, Sophia, Justus, and Rocco), son Dominick Christian Cooper and wife Molly (children: Madeline, Giovanni, and Evangeline), and son William Scott Cooper. He is also loved and remembered by his lifelong best friend, Gerald Lunt.
Services will include a celebration of life at Life Church in Bolivar, Missouri on Feb. 17th, 2024 at 11:00am, a Memorial Service at Rhema Bible Church in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma on Feb. 26th, 2024 at 11:00 am, followed by interment at Floral Haven Cemetery in Broken Arrow, OK.
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