Cooper M. Schley Sr. ’41

Coop was a graduate of Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Va. He entered Princeton with the Class of 1941, but left sophomore year.

 

Enlisting in the Army Air Corps in December 1941, he became a bomber pilot, joining the 97th Bomb Group. He completed 50 missions over Africa and Europe and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with nine clusters. After stints at Eglin Field and Aberdeen, Coop joined the Air Transport Command to ferry A-26s to Europe and India.

 

He graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1949 and joined Tennessee Coal Iron and Railroad Co., but moved to Pennwalt Corp., from which he retired as sales manager.

 

Coop was an avid tennis player and golfer. He was a member of the General Society of Colonial Wars and St. Andrew’s Society. He delivered Meals on Wheels for 20 years and was a devoted member of St. George’s Episcopal Church.

 

He is survived by his second wife of 35 years, Helen Thornberry Schley; his five sons, Cooper Jr., Tom, Henry, David, and Michael; and four granddaughters.