Tula Gilbert CooperA Memory, A Life
A Memory
During her Senior year at Sulphur
Springs High School, Tula
Gilbert composed a memory book.
Indeed a tradition that lives on.
A record of
Tula’s class
information.
Year:
1917-1918
Motto:
“Over the top”
Colors:
Green and
White
Flower:
White
Carnation
Tula was well liked and loved among her classmates.
Tula admired and respected her
instructors. Her favorite subjects were History, English, and Algebra.
She was also a member of the Glee Club.
A Life
Born on October 22, 1900 in Sulphur Springs, Texas to Eugene Gilbert and Hannah Stephens, Tula Louise Gilbert was the youngest of four children and also the lone girl.
Tula (seated
left) is
pictured
here with
her family.
Tula’s brother, Paul Edgar
Gilbert, delivering
goods from Gilbert
General Store in Sulphur Springs,
Texas. Eugene owned the store until June 1919. The family moved to
Wichita Falls, Texas soon
after.
Photo of Tula in while
attending Sulphur
Springs High School. 1918
Graduation Photo
Tula attended Sulphur Springs
High School, and
later, Wesley
College in Greenville,
Texas where she gained a teacher’s education. She began teaching in
small communitie
s near Wichita falls.
Tula continued to teach until her marriage to Oddie J. Cooper in July 1923. The couple resided in Wichita Falls until 1932 when they relocated to Cooper, Texas. The town was so named for Oddie’s father, James D. Cooper.
Oddie and Tula on their
wedding day. July 23, 1923
Oddie Sr.,
Tula, and
Oddie Jr.
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!
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.