Cooper Sr., Ralph Franklin

The Rev. Ralph Franklin Cooper Sr., 77, of Christiansburg, Va., went home to be with the Lord on Monday, November 29, 2010. He pastored Sugar Grove Baptist Church for the past 25 years. He was a United States Navy Veteran and retired as an Electrical Engineer from Virginia Tech. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Lloyd Sr. and Picolla Karnes Cooper. He is survived by his loving wife and sweetheart of 21 years, Patricia Farrell Cooper; son, Ralph Franklin Cooper II and wife, Patsy; son, Randy E. Cooper; stepdaughter, Diane Waters and husband, Neil; stepson, John Sharlow Jr. and wife, Tammy; and step daughter, Kari Taylor and husband, Brad. He is also survived by his 11 grandchildren, whom he loved and adored, Kimberly Ashwell, Kristen Cooper, Joshua Cooper, Joshua Sharlow, Matthieu, Ryan and Cassandra Sharlow, Brandon, Kaylee, Cloe and Bryan Taylor; and his loving church family and friends at Sugar Grove Baptist. The family would like to extend their appreciation and gratitude to the doctors and staff at the Blue Ridge Cancer Center and Carilion New River Valley Medical Center for their gentle care and compassion during his time of need. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 2, 2010, at the Horne Funeral Home. A Funeral Service will be conducted following the visitation at 7 p.m. in the Horne Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Mike Vest officiating. The Cooper family is being served by Horne Funeral Home and Crematory. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.hornefuneralservice.com.