Paul Edmund Cook Jr.

FORT MILL — Mr. Paul Edmund Cook Jr., age 67, of Fort Mill, SC, passed away Tuesday, October 13, 2009, in CMC Pineville (NC).
 
He was born August 31, 1942, in Des Moines, IA, the son of the late Paul E. Cook, Sr. and Charlotte Thompson Cook.
 
Lt. Col. Cook, Jr. (Ret.) served his nation faithfully in the United States Army 82nd Airborne. He served two tours during the Vietnam Conflict and his last active duty service was in Washington, DC, with the Pentagon. He was the recipient of two Purple Heart Medals, Silver Star Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, two Air Medals, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, seven Vietnam Service Medals, the Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star. He attended Kansas City University and later received a master’s degree from Wake Forest University where he was an alumnus. Following his retirement, he was employed for seventeen years by Camden Military Academy in South Carolina.
 
Surviving are his loving wife of forty years, Brenda Bledsoe Cook of Fort Mill, SC; daughter, Jennifer Cook Kennelly and husband, John, of Seattle, WA; son, Paul E. Cook III of Arlington, VA; grandson, Nathan Finn Kennelly; brothers, Mark Cook of Easley, SC, and Jon Cook of Cedar Falls, IA; and sisters, Linda Cook of Albuquerque, NM, Sharon Cook Feltz and Carol Cook, both of Cedar Falls, IA.
 
The family will receive friends from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Friday, October 16, 2009 at McEwen Pineville Chapel, 10500 Park Road, Charlotte, NC 28210.
 
A funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, October 17, 2009 at McEwen Pineville Chapel. Interment will follow at a later date in Arlington Nation Cemetery.
 
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Avenue, Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601.
 
Online condolences www.mem.com.