MARY CATHERINE BILGER KOOP

Mary Catherine Bilger Koop, 93, a resident of Richland, Washington, for over 66 years, passed away peacefully Saturday, September 25, 2010 at the Guardian Angel Homes. She has gone to her rest in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Mary was a descendant of German pioneers that settled in Pennsylvania in the late 1700s and Irish immigrants that worked the steel mills of Missouri and Kansas in the late 1800s. She was born July 7, 1917 in Springfield, Illinois to Harry Edmund Bilger and Katherine Felicitas Christy. Mary attended the Sacred Heart Academy and Springfield Junior College and graduated from the University of Missouri. She moved to Chicago and was employed by Needham, Louis and Brorby, Inc., an advertising agency. It was there she met the love of her life William Nagler Koop a graduate of Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa. Bill was working in Chicago as a chemist for E.I. duPont.

When duPont told Bill he was being transferred to Richland, Washington for the Manhattan Project in mid-June 1944, he and Mary were planning a wedding but found she could not go with him unless she had a job there. With her education and experience, a position was quickly arranged. They were married on July 1, 1944 at St. Thomas Aquinas church in Chicago and on July 3, 1944, they boarded a train for their new life in Richland, Washington.

The Koops, like many other arriving couples, found themselves living in separate quarters while they waited for housing. Some honeymoon! After six weeks, the couple moved into a two-bedroom house with some friends on Torbett Street and after another six-week wait moved into their first home on Gillespie Street.

After three years of service with duPont and General Electric, Mary elected to stay home and raise a family. In 1964, when the youngest of their four children enrolled at Christ the King School, Mary went back to work and served 18 years with General Electric, Computer Sciences Corp. and Boeing Computer Services – Richland. Together Bill and Mary Koop spent a total of 55 years supporting the various Hanford Site organizations.

Mary and Bill raised their family in the Richland community among friends and neighbors from all over the world. They loved bridge, golf, and travelling. Hawaii was a favorite destination as was the European continent. Family gatherings were also a high priority. Throughout their lives they strongly supported a variety of church organizations including St. Vincent de Paul and Tri-Cities Prep. Following Bill's death in 1995, Mary focused on the activities of her church, her six granddaughters and her wealth of friends. She particularly enjoyed playing bridge with the "Merry Widows" and maintained close contact with these dear friends to her last days.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Bill, and sister, Elizabeth A. Bilger Blette. Survivors include her four children: Paul Koop Genie Logan and daughter Alison Koop; Bill Koop Renae Koop and daughters Stephanie Hoeft Brandon Hoeft and Stacy Aldrich Dan Aldrich; Martha Koop David Freeman; Christy Sander Rock Sander and daughters Natalie Kern Kevin Kern, Monica Walker Ryan Walker and Caitlin Sander Luis Escobar, fiancé. Mary also has three great grandchildren that captured a special place in her heart: Sydney Koop, Sander Kern and Aidan Kern. Survivors also include her sister-in-law Shirley J. Koop Amft and many Amft nieces and nephews as well as nephews on her sister Betty Blette's side of the family.

The family wishes to extend their appreciation to the Alterra-Wynwood Assisted Living Community, Kadlec Regional Medical Center, Richland Rehabilitation Center, Guardian Angel Homes, and Chaplaincy Hospice Center for their tender care of Mary during these last months.

A vigil for Mary will be held at Einan's Funeral Home, 915 By Pass Hwy, Richland, WA 99352 on Sunday October 3, 2010 at 3:00 PM. The Funeral Mass will be held at Christ the King Catholic Church, 1111 Stevens Drive, Richland, WA 99354 on October 4, 2010 at 10:00 AM. The family invites you express your thoughts and memories in the online guestbook at www.einansfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts/contributions may be made to the Chaplaincy, 2108 W Entiat Ave., Kennewick, WA 99336-3000.