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Russell E. Cooke

About

Warwick High School

FUNERAL HOME

Peninsula Funeral Home & Crematory

11144 Warwick Boulevard

Newport News, Virginia

Russell Cooke Obituary

NEWPORT NEWS - Russell E. 'Bill' Cooke, 80, went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009.
Bill graduated from Warwick High School in 1947. He was employed by the Newport News Shipyard for 38 years. After retiring, he moved to Sierra Vista, Ariz., where he resided for 16 years. He returned home to Newport News in May 2009.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Russell B. Cooke and Ella Mae Cooke; and brother, Lawrence C. Cooke.
Left to cherish his memory is his loving wife, partner and best friend of 60 years, Mary Helen Cooke; his children, Ellen 'Bunny' Cooke, Victoria Salter (Tom), Timothy Cooke (Lynn), Jonathan Cooke and Stephen Cooke (Carol); 13 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren; and sister, Nora C. Brimer. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
A celebration of Bill's life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorial contributions be made to Bill's favorite charity; Feed the Children, P.O. Box 36, Oklahoma City, OK 73101.
The family would like to express their sincerest gratitude to the nurses at Personal Touch Hospice Care for their love and compassion in their greatest time of need. God has a special place in Heaven for angels like them.
Peninsula Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Daily Press from Nov. 11 to Nov. 12, 2009.

Memories and Condolences
for Russell Cooke

20 Entries

Peggy & Bill Francois

November 17, 2009

I'm so sorry to hear about Bill.
Remember when I picked up the wrong year book at Young at Heart? We always enjoyed talking to Bill. Our prayers are with you.

Roy Fern

November 17, 2009

The Lord continue to bless you and your family,and I know God with His grace and Love He will help you through this difficult time. Love in Christ.

Tom Underwood

November 16, 2009

We send our deepest sympathy to the entire Cooke Family. Uncle Bill was truly a class man, a Godly Family man. I was always impressed by his gentle nature.
Tom Underwood, Huntsville, Alabama

Linda F. Sturm

November 16, 2009

Mary and family,

My heart and prayers go out to you and your family in the loss of your dear husband. I condsider having known you and Bill a great blessing in my life.

Karl Smith

November 16, 2009

My Uncle Bill was a wonderful person who has been a subtle but significant influence in my life. I offer heartfelt condolences to my Aunt Mary Helen, my cousins Bunny, Vickie, Timmy, Johnny, and Steve, and to so many others who knew and loved Bill Cooke. I do hope to join you all in a celebration of his life.

Doyle & Sue Varbel

November 15, 2009

Our sweet Mary and family, our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time of your loss. We loved Bill so much and thank God for the opportunity of being able to know you and Bill. You both remain in our memories of good Christian fellowship and love. We are in prayer for you and your wonderful family as you feel the loss of the wonderful partner and father that was with you for so long. We know he is at peace with the wonderful Lord he spoke of and lived for during his life here on earth. We love you so much. God Bless all of you.

Doyle and Sue Varbel

Charlene McMahon

November 15, 2009

Dear Mary and family, just know that we are thinking of you and that you are in our thoughts and prayers, we miss you but send you our love. Bill was always so sweet to me and I charish the things both of you have hand made and given me. May God give you peace and comfort during this time. , , , , Charlene McMahon
From all the women that do not have email the Women on Mission wanted to let you know they are praying for you and wishing you the very best, please take care of yourself and know that we all miss you and love you. You and Bill were such a sweet blessing to us.

November 15, 2009

Dear Mary Helen, Bunny, Tim, Vickie, Johnny, and Steve,

I am so sorry to hear of your loss and want you to know my my heart is with you.

Betsy and I never got to spend as much time with the the Cook's as we would have liked. You were always so kind to us and we always had so much fun being with you all. Uncle Bill seemed always of good humor with a ready smile and a lot of tolerance for all of us kids. I remember laughing a lot . I remember him paying the first one of us who would go to sleep. He was a genuinely kind person and that is rare. I know he will be greatly missed by many.

My thoughts and sympathy are with you all.

Bruce Knox

Wilma Curtis

November 15, 2009

My condolences to Mary, Bill's loving wife of many years. It must be a great comfort to her and the rest of their families that Bill's Spirit is now in Heaven with Jesus whom Bill loved and served since he was 14 years old. We loved him in our co-ed Sunday School class at First Baptist Church until they moved to Newport News earlier this year. Mary attended a ladies class and shortly before they moved to VA, Bill started attending a senior men's class. Bill was a true Christian and a true Southern Geneleman.

November 14, 2009

Our sympathies go out to the entire Cooke Family. May the many great memories you have of Bill bring you comfort as you mourn his passing.
The Joyce Family

Mary & Chris Stafford

November 13, 2009

To The Cooke Family, My family and I would like to send our sympathies to you. We are very sorry for your loss, anytime you lose someone you love it is heartbreaking. I only got the chance to meet Mr. Cooke one time at Colton's birthday party several years ago, but I remember what a "great" grandfather he was. It is no doubt he was also a loving husband and father also. Wishing all of you the strength in such hard times. Stafford Family

Tom Hayes

November 12, 2009

Russell (Bill) Cooke, another Dad as I called him, will be dearly missed by all who loved him. He was the tiller in an extremely strong and solid family firmly anchored by Mary Helen. Mr. Cookes' demeanor, honest and true as the day is long, is a testament not only on his own life, but also a blueprint for others to follow. You couldn't pick a better man to emulate. I will sadly miss Mr. Cooke but will always remember the joy he brought to his family and anyone else who was fortunate enough to be a part of his life. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.

Ed Radmore

November 12, 2009

This is from all of Bill and Mary's Young a Heart Group in Sierra Vista. We love Bill and Mary. Mary's food was delicious and Bill's playing and singing like Don Williams at our talent shows will always be remembered. We prayed for Mary and the family at our meeting today. Bill was a kind and gentle man and we will miss him. God Bless, Pastor Ed Radmore

November 12, 2009

November 12,2009

Mrs Cooke, Ellen, Cristy, Kenny and family. Our deepest sympathy to you and you family. I did not have the pleasure of getting to know Mr Cooke however I have heard the most wonderful things about him from Craig,and I know you will have the fondest memories of him as a husband, father, grandfather and friend to many.

Our deepest sympathy

Craig and Debbie

Tony Adkins

November 12, 2009

My deepest condolences to you Mrs.Cooke and family.I also grew up in Beaconsdale and remember Mr.Cooke fondly.He always was very nice to me.I did not grow up with a father figure.But if I ever had the chance to pick one he would be at the top of the list.He was a good man.
My best memories were playing baseball at Warwick Pony League.My prayers are with you and your family.
[email protected]

Jim Ridenhour

November 11, 2009

I'm so sorry to read of Mr Cooke's passing. Our prayers are with his family.
Jimmy Ridenhour & Family
[email protected]

Jim Ridenhour

November 11, 2009

I'm so sorry to read of Mr Cooke's passing. Our prayers are with his family.
Jimmy Ridenhour & Family
[email protected]

November 11, 2009

I loved Bill Cooke before he was Uncle Bill and I grieve with you all. Dottie

David Keane

November 11, 2009

Dear Mrs. Cooke and family,

I was saddened to learn of the passing of Mr. Cooke. My deepest sympathy goes to you and your family.

I have many memories of our days growing up in Beaconsdale. Mr. Cooke was always very patient, especially with us boys. I remember him taking Jonny, Steve, myself and several other neighborhood boys to Lake Ahoy in Portsmouth and he had a handful.

Later, when I starting working at the shipyard, it was always a pleasure to go over to the boiler shop and see Mr. Cooke. His words of wisdom help me with my trade and they are still with me today. And he had the best “golf ball” I have ever seen!

Years later I still hold on to these thoughts and memories.

All of you are in my prayers during this difficult time.

November 11, 2009

Dear Mary Helen and family,

Hank and I were so very saddened to read about Uncle Bills' passing this morning. Our hearts and our love go out to each of you at this time of loss. We both share many fond memories of the good times we have spent with UB and MH over the years. Uncle Bill came as close to being a second daddy to us as anyone could. His love of a good joke or story, no matter how often told, his love of music, his gentle ways and his tolerance of all he met are just some of the things I will always remember most about him.

Bunny, Vickie, Tim, John and Stephen please know that you will honor him every day in your love and kindness to others.

Our sincerest sympathy and love to each of you.

Billie and Hank (aka Jack)

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