Tula Gilbert Cooper was born in 1900 in Sulphur Springs, Texas. She attended Sulphur Springs High School where she was well-liked and composed a memory book during her senior year. After graduation, she attended Wesley College and became a teacher, working in small communities near Wichita Falls, Texas until her marriage in 1923. Tula and her husband Oddie J. Cooper lived in Wichita Falls until 1932 when they relocated to Cooper, Texas, a town named for Oddie's father. Tula continued teaching until her marriage and passed away in 1992, survived by her two sons and grandchildren.

1. Tula Gilbert Cooper
A Memory, A Life

2. A Memory

3. During her Senior year at
Sulphur Springs High
School, Tula Gilbert
composed a memory book.
Indeed a tradition that
lives on.

5. Tula was well
liked and loved
among her
classmates.

6. Tula admired and respected her
instructors. Her favorite subjects
were History, English, and
Algebra. She was also a member of
the Glee Club.

7. A Life

8. Born on October 22, 1900 in Tula’s brother, Paul
Sulphur Springs, Texas to Eugene Edgar Gilbert,
Gilbert and Hannah Stephens, Tula delivering goods
Louise Gilbert was the youngest of from Gilbert
four children and also the lone girl. General Store in
Sulphur Springs,
Texas. Eugene
owned the store
until June 1919.
The family moved to
Wichita Falls,
Texas soon after.

9. Tula attended Graduation Photo
Sulphur Springs
High School, and
later, Wesley
College in
Greenville, Texas
where she gained
Photo of Tula in a teacher’s
while attending education. She
Sulphur Springs began teaching in
High School. 1918 small
communities near
Wichita falls.

10. Tula continued to teach until her
marriage to Oddie J. Cooper in July
1923. The couple resided in
Oddie and
Wichita Falls until 1932 when
Tula on their
they relocated to Cooper, Texas.
wedding day.
The town was so named for
July 23, 1923
Oddie’s father, James D. Cooper.

11. All photos and information contained in this photo
essay have been gathered and remixed from the
collections “School Girl Days: A Memory Book” and
“Tula Louise Gilbert Cooper: A Short Biography.”
These collections are located in the Sulphur Springs
Public Library Collection of the NorthEast Texas
Digital Collections database.
This presentation has been remixed and edited by
Alexis Navarrette.
Thank you for viewing!

12. Oddie Cooper passed away in February of 1979. Thirteen years
later on December 9, 1992, Tula followed. They are remembered
and cherished by their two sons, five grandchildren, and many
great-grandchildren.