Betty L. Cooper

Betty L. Patterson Cooper of Slippery Rock, Worth Township, passed away Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021, at Sunnyview Nursing Home in Butler.

She was born Feb. 16, 1925, in Grove City, to Charles Patterson and Gladys Grace Patterson.

She married Frank McClelland “Mack” Cooper on March 16, 1951, and he preceded her in death on April 1, 2011.

Betty graduated from Slippery Rock College and went on to teach physical education at Moniteau School District.

Betty was vivacious and brought great energy to whatever she wanted to do. She loved her family and loved working with people. She and her husband, Mack, operated a farm, and later founded Cooper's Lake Campground, where they hosted the annual Pennsic War for the Society for Creative Anachronism. This annual event, which brings more than 11,000 individuals from all over the world to the campground for a two-week stay, has been a much beloved tradition in our greater community for 48 years. In addition to this event, in 2011, the campground inaugurated the annual Bantam Jeep Rendezvous Festival, which in scope and size is very similar to the Pennsic event, and recently celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2021.

Betty and Mack enjoyed traveling and visited many foreign countries.

Betty was a member of the Zion Baptist Church, and often visited the Slippery Rock Baptist Church.

Until recently, Betty and her family enjoyed visiting Florida each winter for two to three months.

Survivors include her sons, Kenneth C. Cooper and Alan F. Cooper, and her daughters, Judith C. (Frederick) Brezel and Cynthia C. (Thomas) Metcalf, all of Slippery Rock; several grandchildren; her great-grandchildren; and her great-great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her son, David; and two sisters, Peg and Mary Lou.

COOPER — The family of Betty L. Patterson Cooper, who died Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021, will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday and from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at Smith Funeral Home, 421 New Castle St., Slippery Rock.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home with the Rev. Thomas Meling, pastor of the Zion Baptist Church, presiding.

Those wishing to be invited to view the service via Zoom should email their request to sfhsecretary@gmail.com by 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 20, 2021.

Interment will follow at Zion Baptist Cemetery, overlooking Cooper's Lake.

Memorial contributions may be given to Zion Baptist Cemetery Association, 361 Country View Road, Slippery Rock, PA 16057.