Mrs. Ruth Mae Cooper, age 84, passed away on Thursday, August 18, 2011, surrounded by her loving family. Ruth was born November 11, 1926, to Glenn and Edith Joslin near Anamosa, IA. She went to a small school in Stone City, IA, and came to Grand Rapids at the age of 17 for a two-week vacation with her sister’s family. After two weeks, the country girl decided she liked the big city so she got a job at Joppe’s Dairy Bar on Plainfield Avenue. There she was introduced to Royal “Pete” Cooper who was only 16 years old. They dated until April 6, 1946, when they married and were blessed with a family of 3 girls and 3 boys. She is survived by her husband, Royal “Pete”; her 3 daughters and 3 sons, Helen and Steve Smith of Sand Lake, JoAnn and David Fowler of Petoskey, Nancy Samsel of Cedar Springs, Kenneth and Debbie Cooper of Rea, MO, Donald Cooper of Sparta, and Dale Cooper of Rockford, all of who survive. Ruth also leaves 13 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a daughter-in-law, Jeanne Cooper of Sparta. Ruth wrote a neighborhood news column called The Edgerton Events, for many years for the Rockford Register and then The Rockford Squire. Ruth’s family has a lot of praise for Metron of Cedar Springs. She and her family enjoyed a lot of country music at the old McDonald’s in Cedar Springs, Harvest Way of Sparta, and the Rockford Ambulance guest room. Relatives and friends met with the family at the funeral home on Sunday, August 21st, from 2-4 and 6-8 PM. The Service for Mrs. Cooper was at 1:00 O’clock on Monday, August 22, 2011, at the Pederson Funeral Home with Pastor Craig Bryan officiating. Interment in Blythefield Memory Gardens. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the Patient Activity Fund, designated for hair dressing at Metron of Cedar Springs. Arrangements by Pederson Funeral Home, Inc., Rockford, www.pedersonfuneralhome.com