Gerald John Cooper, age 77 of Hunlock Creek, passed away Monday, August 11, 2014 at the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.

Mr. Cooper was born in Nanticoke on January 20, 1937 and was the son of the late John and Irene Benia Cooper.

Gerald graduated from Nanticoke High School in 1955 and served in the US Navy from 1955-1959. He was self-employed as an auto mechanic for many years and retired from the State Correctional Institution at Retreat in 2001 as an automotive trade's instructor. Gerald was a talented musician, private pilot and a great flight instructor. He was a member of the Maple Grove United Methodist Church, Pikes Creek. Gerald enjoyed riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by children, Dennis and Linda Cooper.

Gerald is survived by his wife of 55 years, the former Coleen Rasmus; son, Steve Cooper and his wife Sandy of Silverthorne, CO; daughter, Debbie Cooper of Harveys Lake; grandchildren, Dylan and Colin Cooper, Anna and Lauren Charney.

A memorial service will be held Friday, August 15, 2014 at 11:00 am from the Curtis L. Swanson Funeral Home, Inc., corner of routes 29 and 118, Pikes Creek, with Pastor James Pall of the Maple Grove United Methodist Church, officiating.

A time of visitation will immediately follow the service on Friday.

Interment will be in Maple Grove Cemetery, Pikes Creek.

In lieu of flowers, the family request memorial donations to be made to the Maple Grove United Methodist Church, 5876 Main Road, Hunlock Creek, PA 18621 or Shriners Hospitals for Children, Office of Development, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607.