Alma Viator was far more than the wife of Ben Jones, the actor best known to millions of television viewers as Cooter Davenport on The Dukes of Hazzard. For more than three decades, she was his spouse, business partner and closest companion, sharing both the public side of his career and the quieter years of their life together.
Jones died on August 9, 2026, at 84 after suffering a massive heart attack at the couple’s home in Washington, Virginia. Viator announced his death and offered a deeply personal account of his final moments, describing a peaceful farewell at home.
Their relationship lasted more than 30 years and extended well beyond marriage. Together, they developed the Cooter’s Place brand into a destination for fans of The Dukes of Hazzard and helped establish DukesFest as a major gathering for the show’s devoted audience.
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Their Marriage
Alma Viator and Ben Jones married in 1992.
Their marriage became the longest and most enduring of Jones’s five marriages. While Jones was already a recognizable actor and public figure, Viator remained an important presence behind the scenes as their personal and professional lives became increasingly connected.
The couple spent more than three decades together, navigating Jones’s entertainment career, political activities and business interests.
Their partnership ultimately became one of the defining relationships of Jones’s later life.
Business Partners
Viator played an important role in the business empire surrounding Cooter Davenport.
The couple co-founded Cooter’s Place, a collection of museums, stores and fan attractions celebrating The Dukes of Hazzard. The locations became places where fans could see memorabilia, vehicles and merchandise connected to the popular television series.
The business gave Jones an opportunity to continue the legacy of Cooter Davenport long after the original series ended.
Viator was not simply associated with the business because she was Jones’s wife. She worked alongside him as a partner as the attraction developed into an important part of the couple’s professional life.
DukesFest
The couple were also closely associated with DukesFest, a large fan event celebrating The Dukes of Hazzard.
The gatherings brought together cast members, collectors and fans of the series. Vehicles inspired by the show, memorabilia and appearances helped transform the event into a celebration of the program’s enduring popularity.
For Jones, DukesFest offered a direct connection with the audience that had followed him since his days as Cooter.
Viator was part of the operation behind that connection, helping Jones build a business and fan community that continued decades after the television show’s original run.
Their Family
Jones and Viator shared a blended family.
Together, their family included Jones’s three biological children, three stepchildren and 10 grandchildren.
Although Jones was frequently in the public eye, much of his family life remained separate from the entertainment spotlight. His relationship with Viator was particularly significant during his later years, when the couple continued living and working together.
Their large extended family became another important part of the life they built together.
Final Moments
Viator shared the news of Jones’s death on August 9.
In her tribute, she described his final moments at their home in Washington, Virginia, portraying his passing as peaceful and surrounded by the life they had created together.
According to accounts of her message, Jones had been preparing to watch a baseball game when the fatal heart attack occurred.
Her tribute emphasized not only the shock of losing her husband but also her gratitude for the life they shared.
After more than three decades of marriage, Viator was the person closest to Jones when his life came to an end.
Cooter Davenport
Jones became famous through his portrayal of Cooter Davenport, the mechanic and garage owner in The Dukes of Hazzard.
Cooter was one of the show’s most recognizable supporting characters, and Jones’s performance made the character closely associated with the actor himself.
Even after the television series ended, Jones continued embracing the character through Cooter’s Place and fan events.
That business became a bridge between Jones’s acting career and his later life. Viator was instrumental in that transition, working with him as they turned the character and the show’s memorabilia into a lasting fan experience.
Beyond Hollywood
Jones’s career extended beyond acting.
He also entered politics and served in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Georgia. His public life therefore crossed entertainment and government, giving him an unusually diverse career.
Through all those chapters, Viator remained an important personal presence.
Their marriage connected the different parts of Jones’s life, from Hollywood and politics to the family and businesses they operated together.
Alma Viator’s story cannot be separated from Ben Jones’s later years.
She was his wife of 33 years, the partner who helped him develop Cooter’s Place and DukesFest, and the person who shared his home and final moments.
Following Jones’s death, attention will naturally focus on his career as Cooter Davenport and his political achievements. But his relationship with Viator reveals another side of his life — one centered on family, business and a partnership that endured for more than three decades.
For fans visiting Cooter’s Place or remembering The Dukes of Hazzard, Jones’s legacy will remain tied to the character that made him famous. For Alma Viator and their family, however, his loss represents something much more personal: the passing of a husband, father, grandfather and longtime companion whose life they shared away from the television cameras.
