Donald Waid Coop

Donald Waid Coop of Temecula passed from this life on Monday, April 18, 2016. He had been ailing and was 81. Don was born in Amarillo, Texas, in 1934 to J. Raymond Coop and the former Ruth Click. In 1954, Don was united in marriage to the former Jennean Allred, who preceded him in death by 10 years, following 52 years of marriage. Don was in 2007 united to Doris Burke, who survives him. Don is survived by a sister, Edna Coop Noyes (California); his children, D. Wayne Coop (West Virginia), Gordon D. Coop and wife Hang (California), and Melody P. Gallagher and husband Claude (California). He is preceded in death by his third child, Deanna Dawn Coop (mort. 1961); and survived by grandchildren Stephen Stanton Myrick V, Shanna Hong Coop, Donald Theodore Myrick, Isaac Jeremiah Coop, Robert Yem Coop, Holly Jennean Myrick, Elijah Gordon Coop, and Aaron Donald Coop; and by two nieces, Susan Handley and Nancy Ramsey. A nephew, Bobby Noyes, precedes him in death. Also left to cherish his memory are step-daughters Kristin Cowles (Steve), Heather Burke, and Cindy Leapley (Steven); and step-grandchildren Jordan, Sydney, Sonny, Daisey, Micah, Slater, Kai, and Piper. Don was graduated from Glendale High School in 1952 and was awarded an A.A. in business from Los Angeles City College in 1954. He was a car dealer for 28 years in Los Angeles before moving to Temecula in 1985. He and Jennean contributed significantly to the commercial and cultural evelopment of Temecula. They were co-founders of the Mellman Library and boosters of many area churches. In 1975 they sponsored a Vietnamese refugee family. In 1991, they established in Temecula the Melody Manor home for unwed mothers. Don was a layman participant and underwriter for innumerable charities and missions. He bought 1200 wheelchairs for impecunious disabled people on five continents. Don was a tithing member of Rancho Community Church. He and Jennean joined the Republican party in 1965, and were both active in the Civil Rights movement of that era. Known for his charm and eccentric humor, Don was a fair cook, an aficionado of German Shepherds, and a self-trained architect who designed his own buildings. He read three newspapers daily and enjoyed Rogers and Hammerstein musicals. His vacations not oriented to good works were centered on fishing and off-roading. His ranch property hosted a lemon grove, a baptismal font, a quail hatchery, a petting zoo for his grandchildren, 18 hummingbird feeders, and, at one point a bison corral. Gifts in loving memory may be made to Rancho Community Church Building Fund or Free Wheelchair Mission. Services will be held at the aforementioned church at 10:00 am on Saturday April 30, 2016.