Vangie Lee Ellis Cooper

Vangie Lee Ellis Cooper, of Rocky Mount, passed away Tuesday, May 22, 2012 in the Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital. She was born March 9, 1932 in Bedford County, a daughter of the late Hubert Ellis and Annie Belle Morgan Ellis. Vangie graduated from Rocky Mount High School, class of 1950. Following graduation, she worked as a secretary for Bald Knob Furniture Company, Appalachian Power, Franklin Memorial Hospital and the Franklin County School Board. She was an active member of the Franklin Heights Baptist Church, where she served in many capacities over the years. She was a devoted wife of 61 years to Gerald Rudolph Cooper, who survives and a beloved mother of two daughters Leslie Anne Wilfong (Lee Junior Wilfong), of Callaway and Susan Cooper Biggs (Gregory J. Biggs), of Union Hall; two sisters, Mae Martin, Moneta, and Marie Blackwelder (Jim Blackwelder), Evington; two brothers, William Ellis, Concord, and Kenneth Darnell Ellis (Mary Ellis), Lynchburg; three grandchildren, Michael Justin Brengel, Megan Lee Brengel and David William Brengel; one great-grandchild, Riley William-Douglas Brengel. The family would like to express appreciation to Erma Gearhart, who was a friend and special caregiver to Vangie during her long illness, as well as to the caring staff of Carilion Roanoke Memorial, 7 South and Carilion Franklin Memorial hospitals. Thanks to family, special neighbors and the Lois and Eunice Sunday school class for their support of cards, visits, food and many acts of kindness. A service of remembrance will be conducted by Reverend J. Larry Holland from Flora Funeral Chapel on Friday, May 25, 2012 at 2 p.m. with interment to follow at Franklin Memorial Park. Her family will receive friends one hour prior to the service on Friday at Flora Funeral Service and Cremation Center, Rocky Mount.