Warren E. Cook

Latham, N.Y. Warren Edward Cook, 82, died Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2008, after a period of failing health. He was predeceased by his loving wife of 57 years, the late Beverly Lois (Blanchard) Cook. A native of Whitman, Mass., former resident of Latham and Inverness, Fla., he was born June 21, 1926, in Brockton, Mass., to the late John F. Cook and Ruth H. (Humphrey) Cook. Warren was a graduate of Whitman High School, Class of 1944, and immediately entered into the V-12 Program of World War II as an aviator cadet. The program was conducted at Harvard University as part of his active duty in the U.S. Navy. His pre-flight training was at Chapel Hill, N.C., where he continued his academic studies and was honorably discharged from naval service in June of 1951. After many years in Brockton, Warren and his family moved to Holden, Mass., where he and his wife owned and operated Cooks Camper Sales. He worked as branch manager for the Pillsbury Company, later moving to Latham, where, for many years, Warren and his wife Beverly owned and operated the Warren Cook Tax Service. They retired to enjoy life in Inverness, Fla., with their son and family. After the passing of Beverly, he returned to the Albany area to be near his daughter and her family. Spending time in Delmar Place Assisted Living and finally, as his health declined, in a nursing home. Both Warren and Beverly were proud of the years they spent with their family in Latham. They were members of the Newtonville United Methodist Church. They were active in numerous service groups including Kiwanis, Latham Chamber of Commerce and Elks. Warren had a lifetime love of Model As, having enjoyed them during young adult years and again restoring one with sons while living in Latham and then participating with his 1928 Model A Tudor Sedan in activities with the Citrus As in Inverness. Warren also had a love of boating. He boated in Inverness, on the Mohawk and Hudson Rivers and at Lake St. Catherine. He was extremely proud of being a 32nd degree Master Mason with the Baalis Sanford Lodge A.F. & A.M. (Brockton) and also holding the 33rd and last degree, later entering into the Oriental Temple of Troy for a total of 22 years belonging in the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. He was the father of Judith C. Beach and her husband Kirk of South Bethlehem, David E. Cook and his wife Maryann of Lecanto, Fla., and Richard A. Cook and his wife Ellen of Palisades; his seven grandchildren include Parker and Ashley Beach of South Bethlehem, Scott Cook of North Carolina, Kerryann Cook of New York City, Patricia Green and her husband Will of Tampa, Fla., and John and David Cook of Palisades. He is also survived by his great-grandson, Tobias Green of Tampa, Fla.; and his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Vernon and Helen Blanchard of Hyannis, Mass.; as well as loving nieces and nephews. Family and friends may call at the Bowen Funeral Home, Latham, from 2 to 4 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 10, or the Blanchard Funeral Chapel in Whitman, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 11. Burial will be in Colebrook Cemetery, Whitman. In lieu of flowers, the memorial contributions may be made to the Latham Kiwanis Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 173, Latham, NY 12110. For online condolence page, please visit www.bowenfuneralhome.com or www.blanchardfc.com.