Franklin D. Cooper

MARION-–Franklin D. Cooper, 67, of Marion passed away at 4:00 AM, Saturday, February 28, 2009 at Heartland Regional Medical Center in Marion. With respect with Frank’s own personal wishes there will be no public visitation or funeral. Blue Funeral Home is in charge. Frank was born October 10, 1941in Alabama to Melvin and Nora (Parrish) Cooper. He married Barbara Powell on February 27, 1965; they just celebrated their 44th anniversary. Survivors include his wife, Barbara of Marion; daughter and son-in-law, Dawn and Kevin Tondini of Marion; sons and daughters-in-law, Jim and Jeannene Cooper of Herrin and Aaron and Michelle Cooper of Ozark; grandchildren, Joseph Tondini, Michael Tondini, Kristin Cooper and Luke Cooper; brothers and sisters-in-law, Herman and Janice Cooper of Tunica, Mississippi, Jim and Carol Cooper of East Peoria and Julian and Ann Cooper of Memphis, Tennessee; and sisters and brothers-in-law, Mary and Jerry Chism of West Memphis, Arkansas and Dorothy and Kenneth Hardin of Marked Tree, Arkansas. He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Mavis Burrow. Frank was of the Baptist Faith, he was saved on Easter Sunday of 1979. He worked in Law Enforcement for 32 years, having served as a Sergeant with the West Memphis, Arkansas Police, Arkansas State Police, East Peoria Police before joining the Illinois State Police. After 22 years he retired from the Illinois State Police as a Crime Scene Supervisor, which on occasion would be interviewed for television crime scene programs. He was a Certified Latent Fingerprint Expert from the FBI Academy. He served his country with the United States Air Force, stationed in Japan and Korea. His hobbies included fishing and spending time with his grandchildren.