Sam Wilshire Cooper, 85, of Henderson, NC, passed away peacefully with his family by his bedside on February 3, 2026.

He was born in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, to the late John Albert Cooper and Lucy Carter Cooper. Sam shared 63 devoted years of marriage with his beloved wife, Doris Adcock Cooper, and was a loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who will be deeply missed by his family.

After moving to Henderson in 1964, Sam worked as a carpenter at John Franklin Construction, was a member of the maintenance team at Burkhart Carolina (the Pickle Plant), and later worked in maintenance at Kennametal, where he retired from and spent the longest part of his career. A dedicated and hardworking man, he approached every job with skill, care, and tireless energy. An avid mechanic with a love for cars, Sam could always be found with wrenches in hand and tools in his belt, bringing projects to life, repairing almost anything, and using his talents to help others. His hands-on abilities, patience, and generosity left a lasting impression on everyone who knew him.

A man of strong faith, he joined Tungsten Baptist Church in the early 1970s, where he became a long-time, faithful member and deacon. Sam played a significant role in shaping the church through renovations and additions over the years, served on multiple church committees, and was well known for his servant's heart, always going out of his way to care for and support others.

Sam is survived by his wife of 63 years, Doris Adcock Cooper; his children, Johnny Cooper (Debbie) and Bradley Cooper (Joan); his grandchildren, Jacob Cooper (Vivien), Joshua Cooper, and Braden Cooper; and his great-granddaughter, Avery Cooper. Being the last remaining Cooper sibling of seven, Sam has gone home to be with his four brothers, John Cooper Jr., James Cooper, William Cooper, and Charles Cooper, and his two sisters, Mary Newton and Irene Silcox.

A celebration of Sam's life officiated by Rev. Joe Don Cooper and Rev. Earnie Taylor will be held at Tungsten Baptist Church on February 7, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., with a visitation prior to the service at 1:00 p.m.

The family appreciates flowers, or memorial contributions may be made in Sam's memory to Tungsten Baptist Church Building Fund. Sam's legacy of faith, hard work, generosity, and love for family will be remembered by all whose lives he touched.