William "Hoop" Edward Hooper

William “Hoop” Edward Hooper, Sr. of D’Iberville, MS, passed away Thursday, April 30, 2015 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Hoop, born October 9, 1935, in Mount Carmel, Indiana, retired from the United States Air Force on July 31, 1980, after dedicating 26 years of his life to serving and protecting The United States of America. Hoop retired from the Air Force Civil Service on September 26, 2014 after 31 years. While serving, Hoop spent time in Africa, Japan, Vietnam, and Turkey. In addition Hoop earned a “Bronze Star” for demonstrating extraordinary initiative and performance obtaining supplies to support the US Airpower in the Republic of Vietnam. Hoop was preceded in death by his parents, Ruth and Robert Allan Hooper; four brothers, Louis Hooper, David Heinlein, Robert Allan Hooper Jr. and John Spencer Hooper; and two wives, Edith Faye Hooper and Ruth Martino Hooper. Survivors include one sister, Helen Tacket; one brother, Lawrence Daniel Hooper; five children, Denise K. Menke, Judith A. Cook, Wanda L. Broerman, Cynthia L. Foley, and William E. Hooper Jr.; three step children, Linda Patronas, Trudy Gollott, and John Roy Moran; 15 grandchildren; 13 step grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and many step great-grandchildren. Visitation will be Wednesday, May 6, 2015 from 6 to 8 pm at the Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home in Biloxi Ms. Funeral services will be held Thursday in the funeral home chapel at 11am. Burial will follow in the Biloxi National Cemetery with full military honors.