Ruth Cooper

Calling Hours:
Tuesday, March 22, 2022, 9:00-10:45am
Anderson Lounge of Zion's Reformed UCC
260 Main St., Greenville, PA

Funeral Service:
Tuesday, March 22, 2022, 11:00am
Chapel of Zion's Reformed United Church of Christ
260 Main St., Greenville, PA
Rev. Julia Fraser, Chaplain at St. Paul's, officiating

Burial will be private in Shenango Valley Cemetery

Ruth Agnes (Bollenbacher) Cooper, age 93, of Greenville, passed away Saturday morning, March 19, 2022 at St. Paul’s.

Ruth was born March 8, 1929 to Rufus T. and Clara (Merinar) Bollenbacher in Greenville, PA. Though she traveled widely, she always thought of western PA as the most beautiful place on earth.

After graduating from Penn High School in 1947, Ruth proudly attended Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing in Pittsburgh, from which she graduated in 1950. For many years, she enjoyed annual reunions with friends and alumni from both schools.

Ruth’s nearly four decades in nursing took her to various hospitals and care centers. While working at Magee Women’s Hospital in the early 1970s, she took on a pioneering role, becoming Pittsburgh’s first obstetric nurse practitioner to work in a hospital setting. She retired in 1989 from Greenville Hospital, Greenville, PA.

Ruth is survived by one son, Randall L. Cooper, of Chestertown, MD, two daughters, Julie Altman (Richard) of Pacific Grove, CA, and Christine Cooper (Joseph McHugh) of Pittsburgh, PA, and eight grandchildren, Nathan, Byron, and Wills Cooper, Joel, Aaron, and Emma Altman, and Helen and Olivia McHugh.

She was married to Clifford W. Cooper for 45 years. She is preceded in death by her husband, her parents, a sister, Helen Anderson, and a brother, Walt Bollenbacher.

For many years, Ruth was an active member of Zion’s Reformed United Church of Christ. She served as an elder and enjoyed many church activities, including the Women of Zion and the Quilting group. Ruth was an accomplished seamstress and belonged to the Pieceful Pursuits Quilting Guild for many years. Ever smiling and sociable, Ruth loved being surrounded by her family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Zion’s Reformed United Church of Christ, 260 Main St., Greenville, PA 16125 or The Good Shepherd, 10 N. Water St., Greenville, PA 16125. Arrangements have been entrusted to Loutzenhiser-Jordan Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., 366-368 S. Main St., Greenville.