John Wallace Cooper IV

On August 31 of 1948, a red-haired son was born to Doris Couch and John W. Cooper III in Dallas. Named John W. Cooper, IV and nicknamed “Johnny,” he lived in Dallas and Knoxville, TN until the age of two when his parents moved to Odessa, TX.

John attended schools in Odessa, graduating ninth in his 1966 class at Permian High. He excelled in track and set a school record in the 1,600-meter race. Next came the University of Texas-Austin, and his first day on campus was highlighted by the Tower shooting. Campus activities included serving as president of the UT Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers and membership in the honorary civil engineering societies Tau Beta Pi and Chi Epsilon along with Sigma Chi social fraternity. He graduated in 1970, finishing the five-year course in four years.

Immediately after graduation, John began service with the Texas National Guard.

Odessa was a booming city when his parents located there in the 1950s, and his father opened John W. Cooper Construction Co. John joined the company after graduation and continued the tradition of building West Texas, recently completing the last job in the firm’s 70 years of operation. During its operations, the company built more than 15 million square feet of office space and finished more than $1.75 billion in buildings/projects.

Later known as Cooper Construction Co., it focused on educational, government, commercial, religious, medical and service projects. Through John’s leadership, the company touched almost every aspect of life throughout West Texas. He developed a reputation for ensuring things were done right and for working with the owners.

Included under education are Fox Science Building, Jack Brown Dining Hall, F. Marie Hall Academic Building and Dollye Neff Chapel at Midland College; the Library, Visual Arts Center, Science-Technology Building, Founders Building and Central Energy Plant at UT-Permian Basin; Trinity School; Greenwood schools; Permian High, Lamar Elementary, Murray Fly Elementary, ECISD Career Center, and Compass Academy Charter School in Odessa; Midland Freshman High, Bush Elementary in Midland; and Sul Ross State University – Alpine. The list includes more than one hundred elementary school work during the company’s history.

Commercial projects included Toyota in Abilene and Odessa, Honda in Midland, All-American Chevrolet and Hyundai in Odessa, OGX Resources, Southwestern Bell in Midland, Grande Communications, Concho Resources, and Luby’s Cafeteria locations throughout West Texas.

Government work included the Ector County Law Enforcement Center and courthouses in Midland and Odessa.

Medical projects included Heart Center at Midland Memorial Hospital; MCH Center for Health and Wellness in Odessa; Reeves County Hospital – Pecos; Mitchell County Hospital – Colorado City.

Church projects included Christ Church Anglican; St. Nicholas’ Episcopal Church; Golf Course Road Church of Christ, First Baptist Church, First Presbyterian Church, Trinity Presbyterian Church, First Methodist Church, and Redeemer Church – Midland, First Baptist Church and First Christian Church –Odessa.

Projects that provide services to people were West Texas Food Banks and Boys and Girls Clubs – Midland and Odessa, Salvation Army and Springboard Center – Midland, and additions and renovations to Midland Community Theatre, the Globe Theater and Anne Hathaway Cottage in Odessa.

Board service included Prosperity Bank, Texas Commerce Bank, Trinity School and West Texas Food Bank. He also devoted time (more than once) as a member of Christ Church Anglican vestry. He was a member of the West Texas Association of General Contractors.

John’s life changed in November 1989 when he noticed a blonde-haired woman at a church convention. He took a gamble and asked her for a date to the movies. Lana Cunningham reluctantly accepted. On May 2, 1992, they were married at St. Nicholas’ Episcopal Church. In February 1996, their son, Christopher Wallace, was born.

The family enjoyed an (almost) yearly trip to the beach at La Jolla, CA. In recent years, John and Lana cruised down the Danube, Seine and Rhine rivers and up to Alaska.

After the first cruise down the Danube, John returned home and picked up a paintbrush. He discovered a love for painting and devoted hours to studying artists and trying new techniques. He joined the Midland Arts Assembly and the San Angelo Arts Club, where he was the featured artist in San Angelo for May and June.

John loved Christ and strived to become more like him. He constantly studied the Bible, read books on how to become closer to Christ, and gave to organizations that served others in places where he could not go. John’s giving has impacted people throughout the world. He was a member and core leader of Men’s Community Bible Study.

His plans for retirement evaporated on July 16, 2025, when God pulled him into heaven. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 24, 2025 at Christ Church Anglican.

John is survived by his wife, Lana of Midland; his son, Christopher Wallace of Frisco; his sister, Deborah Cooper Farrell (Pat) of Katy; cousins Jimmy Couch of Odessa, Elizabeth Cooper Davis of Boerne, David Couch (Lisa) of Kent, WA, Reagan Couch (Elaine) of Hermiston, OR, Su Smith of Tucson, AZ, and Steve Smith of Los Angeles, CA; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Honorary pallbearers will be Raymond Chaisson, Sealy Bryan, Travis Barron, Jim Hawklee, Alex Swendig, Tim Sliger, Dick Brown, Carl Rice, Jr., Don Shackelford, David Copeland, Ray Chaisson, Robert Chaisson, Roberto Borjon, and Jose Borjon.

The family would like to thank the staff at Midland Memorial Hospital’s Heart Center and ICU for the tremendous effort they put forth in trying to keep John on this earth.

Memorial donations may be made to Christ Church Anglican or a charity of choice.

Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com.

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