Eugene Russell Cooper III, 81 passed away peacefully at home in Plainfield, Indiana, on March 25, 2025. He was the second child of the late Mary Bess Grace and Eugene R. Cooper Jr.

Eugene (commonly known as Gene or Rusty) is survived by his wife Nancy of 50 years, son, Scott Russell Cooper (Wendy), sisters, Janice Clark and Patty Hooten, and Brother John Cooper, grandson, Grant Cooper (Meghan), granddaughter, Andrea Cooper, and former wife Patty Masten Shelton.

He spent his younger years living in North Salem and graduating there in 1961. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1961-1964. He worked for Public Service Indiana from 1968 to 1983 and Chrysler from 1986 to 2005. He had been active with the Versailles Legion and Danville Jaycees. He and Nancy were active with Amway and Central Indiana Leather Guild. They enjoyed traveling through 48 states and a portion of Canada during their lifetime. Gene enjoyed working with Nancy to prepare for family reunions annually. He was a people "person".

Visitation will be held on Friday April 4, 2025, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Hall-Baker Funeral Home, Plainfield. Funeral services will be held on Saturday April 5, 2025, at 11 a.m. in the funeral home with burial to follow with military rites in Clayton Cemetery.