Tipp City Herald - Veteran

COOPER, DTFN DARRELL L. - Memorial services were held on Saturday afternoon, February 9, at the Park Layne Baptist Church for DFTN Darrell L. Cooper, 20, who was presumably lost at sea on Friday, February 1, while serving with the U.S.S. Raleigh in the Mediterranean. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Cooper of 9052 South Bellefontaine Road; his mother was the former Norma Rawlins of Brandt. The report from relatives was that navy officials told the family that the young seaman was to report for duty at midnight on February 1. When he failed to show up, a search of the ship was made. Upon investigation, it was learned that he was last seen at about 7:45 p.m. that evening. A search party was dispatched, including a helicopter, but no trace of the young man was found. The search was abandoned on Sunday. Born in Dayton, Cooper was a graduate of Tecumseh High School and of the Springfield-Clark County Joint Vocational School in 1971. He enlisted in the navy in September of that year and needed just 164 days to complete his enlistment. In addition to his parents, other survivors include one sister, Mary Helen; three brothers, Mark, Chris and Gary; a half-sister and a half-brother; and his grandmother, Mrs. Eulah Rawlins of Dayton.