John Lawrence Cook

John Lawerence Cook, 82, of Pleasant Grove, went home to be with the Lord, our loving Savior Jesus Christ on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. He was born on October 28,1943 in Martins Ferry, Ohio, where he graduated high school and was the eldest of three children.

John lived a life of servanthood – always thinking of others needs first. He joined the Army National Guard as a young man in his 20's, where he served for 6 years with the 4th Battalion Armory Unit in Wheeling, West Virginia. He had a passion for working on cars that grew into having his own shop, Cook's Auto Body, on route 250. You could always bet he was in the garage working on someone's car listening to the oldies on his shop radio. God laid it upon his heart to serve his community as a Pastor, who was ordained by the Christian Church in the mid-1980s. Anyone who met John knew he was a man that loved serving the Lord. He would sit in his blue cushioned chair with bibles & books stacked near the side with his eyeglasses sitting on top always ready to learn what the Lord had to share with him that day. He enjoyed sharing God's Word with those less fortunate by going to the local prison, hospitals, and homes giving people peace, hope, & love. John served as the chaplain for the Colerain Fire Company. He also served as the president of the board at Pleasant Grove Christian School. Over the course of 40 years, he touched the lives of thousands of people – preaching God's Word & baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. One of his greatest life's ambitions was to baptize his children & grandchildren, which he did. Together with his loving wife, Judith Cook of 62 years of marriage, created a legacy to carry on his memory & teachings that will be passed on to be cherished by the next generations.

John is survived by his wife Judith Cook; daughter Corinna Cook & her children Angel (Mike) & Chase; eldest son John Cook (Laura Cook) & their children Samantha, Sarah (Tevon), Johnny (Sheyenna), Anthony (Nicole) & Bobby (Mary); son James Cook (Joy Cook) & their children Judy, Christian (Jules), & Michael (Samantha); & all his great grandchildren Hannah, Raelynn, Tucker, Arabella, Maci, Zachary, Ethan, Jacob, Jayden, Mason, Isabella, Kingston, Adelynn, Noah & Lylee. John is preceded in death by his sisters Dottie & Linda; niece Amanda Jo; loving daughter-in-law, Eve Charlene Cook; & grandson, Lucas McCracken. In lieu of flowers John would have loved proceeds to be donated to Samaritan's Purse to support their mission of relief and evangelism. Please go to Samaritan's Purse website at: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/memorial-page/john-lawrence-cook-pleasant-grove-oh/

Friends will be received at Wilson Funeral Home Heslop Chapel 415 Walnut St. Martins Ferry, Ohio on Sunday February 1, 2026, from 3pm till 6 pm. Full Military services will be held at the Funeral Home by the Belmont County Veterans Association. Private service and interment will be held at the convenience of the family, interment in Holly Memorial Gardens Pleasant Grove.

To leave the family a condolence please visit www.wilsonfuneralhomes.com