Dale Allen Cooper passed away at his home in Fortuna on February 14, 2021. He was 97. Dale was born in Morton, Washington on April 9, 1923 to Herbert and Cecil Cooper. He joined the US Navy in 1940 at the age of 17 and served until the end of the war. He was stationed in Brazil and Cuba, later assigned to duty aboard an LST, where he served in the Pacific, earning the rank of bosun’s mate.

After the war Dale returned to Morton, where he married Della Williams. In 1947 Dale and Della moved to Fortuna with their first daughter. Together they had four children: Kay, Jerry, Jean and Tom. Eventually Dale and Della divorced, and in 1965 he married Elynor Lowrey. They were married for almost 50 years until Elynor’s death in 2015.

Dale first found work in Humboldt County as owner-operator of a truck hauling railroad ties. He later worked as a timber faller until 1964, when he became a commercial fisherman and the proud captain of the Daydream. After Dale retired from fishing, he and Elynor bought the Angelina Inn in Fernbridge, which they ran for seven years.

Dale enjoyed many hobbies in his later years, including beekeeping and woodworking. His generosity kept the family and neighborhood well supplied with honey, cutting boards, cedar chests and jewelry boxes.

Dale is survived by four children, one stepdaughter and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. He will be much missed by all who knew and loved him.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Dale Cooper’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.