William Roulston Cooper, Jr.

William “Bill” Cooper, Jr., 83, of Allentown, NJ, passed away Saturday, January 24, 2026. Born on February 25, 1942 in Woodbury, NJ to Louise Zane and William Roulston Cooper, Sr., he was a 1959 graduate of Paulsboro High School and earned his undergraduate degree in 1963 from Muhlenberg College. Following college, Bill entered the Army National Guard Woodbury Unit, serving for six years and began a career with the State of New Jersey Department of Labor where he worked for 44 years, retiring in 2008.

Bill loved being active. He was a soccer coach for both Allentown and Bordentown recreational leagues for 18 years and coached for Allentown Little League Baseball for 3 years. He loved horses, owning three over the years. He took great care of his horses and encouraged anyone and everyone to learn to ride them. Later in life, Bill volunteered for the Standardbred Retirement Foundation.

Always up for an adventure, Bill enjoyed riding motorcycles and took several cross-country camping trips on his bike with his brother and brother-in-law. When Bill decided to take on a task or a hobby, he did it all out. He loved taking care of his garden, planting not just a few tomatoes, peppers, and squash, but really invested his time, planting everything from corn to potatoes. He liked to ski in his youth and when he decided, in his 50’s, to take up skiing again, he did it with gusto, skiing for many years afterwards.

Bill loved his community and cared deeply for others. He did his best to lift people up and make the world a better place. His true love was his family. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He loved going on vacation with his family, taking amazing trips to Cape May, Williamsburg, and many other places. He adored his grandchildren and loved spending time supporting them with everything they did, attending countless concerts, recitals, sporting events, boy scout ceremonies and graduations.

Predeceased by his parents, William and Louise Cooper, his sister, Margaret Burget, and his brother-in-law, Carl Brick; Bill is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Bari Lu Cooper; his son and daughter-in-law, Jefferson and Susan Cooper, his daughter and son-in-law, Ashley and Michael Donofrio; his grandchildren, William Cooper and his fiancée, Heather Ewen; Michael Donofrio Jr., Joseph Donofrio, and Charlotte Donofrio; his brother and sister-in-law, Thomas Zane and Jane Cooper; his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, James Burget, Beth and Rudi Witzel, Jane Brick, and Sam and Judi Brick as well as many nieces and nephews.

A visitation with the family will be held from 11-1 pm on Saturday February 21st at the Peppler Funeral Home, 114 S. Main St. Allentown, NJ. A celebration of life will begin at 1pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Bill’s name to the Standardbred Retirement Foundation of New Jersey, PO Box 312, Millstone, NJ 08535 (www.adoptahorse.org) or to the Hope Fire Company No. 1, 82 Route 526, Allentown, NJ 08501 (www.hopefirecompany.com) or to Allentown Public Library Association, 16 South Main St., PO Box 383, Allentown, NJ 08501.