Virginia Love Culvahouse Cooper, of Knoxville TN, died in her sleep on Wednesday afternoon, October 3, 2018.

She was born 87 years ago, named for Dr. Love who delivered her and the nurse Virginia who assisted. Virginia was the last of 8 children born to Aurenia (Rena) Mae Collins Culvahouse, as her father, Dallas Franklin Culvahouse, Sr., died when Virginia was an infant. Her seven siblings have predeceased her: Grover, Arch, Charles, Claude and Dallas Culvahouse, Blanche Walker and Irma Walsh, at least five of whom served in the military. Due to her mother’s fragile health, Virginia was raised in the old “baby’s home” on Cecil Avenue, then the John Tarleton Home for children, and as a teenager in foster homes. Her mother “Rena”, who in her later years lived at the George Maloney Home in Knox County, died in 1953.
Virginia graduated from Young High School in 1951. She married Alford Lafayette (Fate) Cooper (who died in 2004) on December 12, 1952, at Second Methodist Church on Western Avenue. She worked for the telephone company for over 30 years, retiring in 1986. She enjoyed her union activities and most especially those times she took her place on the picket line during strikes.

Virginia and Fate (Al) took great pride in their three children: Rhonda, Ronald (died 2012) and Reneau, as well as her grandsons, Carson (died 2008) and Grant Howard, and Matthew (wife Christy), Ryan (wife Tabatha), and Spencer Cooper (wife Kate); and four great grandchildren: Tierney and Kellan, Sawyer and Daisy. She also is survived by her daughter-in-law Norma Cooper and son-in-law John Wolford, as well as nieces and nephews in Tennessee, Michigan, Massachusetts, New York, Alabama and Virginia. She was well cared for in her final years by the staff at The Lantern in Lenoir City.

Her graveside service in Highland Memorial Cemetery will be on Monday, October 8 with Rev. Randy Pasqua officiating.

Memorial gifts may be made to her favorite charity, the Tennessee Democratic Party, 1900 Church Ave., Nashville TN 37203, or to a charity of your choice.

Click Funeral Home Farragut Chapel, 11915 Kingston Pike is serving the Cooper family.

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