Ex-county treasurer Cooper R. Smith dies

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Cooper R. Smith, 82, of Bowling Green, died May 31, 2010, in Bowling Green.

The Bowling Green native was born May 27, 1928. He was a graduate of College High School and Western Kentucky University, with degrees in math an science. He married Bette Margaret Leathers, of Lexington, on Dec. 30, 1950. He served from 1950 to 1976 in the U.S. Air Force, traveling all over the country and doing tours in Labrador, Turkey and Germany. He earned a master’s degree in logistics management from the Air Force Institute of Technology in 1966. A recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal, he retired from the Air Force with the rank of lieutenant colonel, remaining a proud member of the Military Officers’ Association of America for the remainder of his life.

After returning to his hometown, he completed a master’s degree in business management at Western Kentucky University and was appointed treasurer for Warren County serving in this role from 1982-1992. Col. Smith followed his father’s footsteps to become regent of the Ogden College Foundation, a position he held for more than 50 years, serving actively for 25 of those years.

A member of the First Christian Church of Bowling Green in his youth, Col. Smith later served the First Christian Church of Anchorage, Alaska, as deacon, elder and chairman of the board and sponsor of CYF, the high school youth group. An active member of The Presbyterian Church of Bowling Green for more than 30 years, he served as an adult Sunday school teacher, deacon and elder.

Col. Smith was also active in service to his community, as a member and past president of the Noon Kiwanis Club; Lt. Gov. of the Kentucky-Tennessee District Kiwanis Club; past president of the Charles Duncan Chapter of Sons of the American Revolution; treasurer of the Bowling Green Boys’ club and a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. He was also an official member of the American Legion and a Kentucky Colonel. He was a son of the late Cooper R. Smith Sr. and Ruth Walker Smith.

A memorial service is 11 a.m. Saturday at The Presbyterian Church, with entombment in the church columbarium. Visitation is from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at J.C. Kirby & Son Funeral Home, Lovers Lane chapel, and from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday at the church.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to the music ministry of The Presbyterian Church, 1003 State St., Bowling Green, KY 42101 or charity of your choice.

Survivors include Bette, his wife of nearly 60 years; a sister, Alice Simon; two daughters Leigh Jones and her husband, Don, of Hermitage, Tenn., and Shelly Greattinger and her husband, Daryl, of Monticello; a son, Cooper Ray Smith III and his wife, Carol, of Hendersonville, Tenn.; six grandchildren, Harmony Guffey, of Scottsdale, Ariz., Windy Guffey, of Seattle, Reuben Stahl, of Knoxville, Tenn., Lyndsay Greattinger, of San Francisco, Aaron and Austin Greattinger, of Monticello; four great-grandchildren Justice McClellan, Airius McClellan, James Patrick Carroll III and Riley Couture Carroll; four nieces, two great-nieces; and three great nephews.