John Cooke

John Henry Cooke, 87, of Chillicothe, died 9:30 pm Tuesday May 31, 2005 in the Adena Regional Medical Center. He was born June 1, 1917 in Chillicothe to John Wade Cooke and Clara Ziegler Cooke. On June 3, 1939 he married Muriel Pittenger who preceded him in death. He is survived by three daughters and sons-in-law, Barbara D. (Richard) Smith, of West Union, OH, Mary F. (James) Smith, of Webster, TX, and Theresa M. (Ben) Webb, of Crestview, IL; two sons and daughters-in-law, John J. (Marlene) Cooke, of Chillicothe, and Richard M. (Lee) Cooke, of Mililani, HI; 19 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great grandchildren; two sisters, Virginia Ray and Katherine DeLong; and two brothers, George Cooke and Eugene Cooke, all of Chillicothe. He was preceded in death by a sister, Mary E. Cooke, two granddaughters, and one great-granddaughter. He retired from the Mead Corporation, of Chillicothe and had worked for FSC Paper Co., Alsip IL and the Westmoreland Place Nursing Home. He was a member of the Mead Foreman's Club, Mead Retiree Club, Ross Co. Senior Citizens, The Heritage Foundation and the National Rifle Association. He was a volunteer with the Scioto-Paint Valley Crisis Center, the last member of the Chillicothe Reliance Volunteer, and Fire Co. #5. John was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church where the Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:00am Saturday, Rev. Lawrence Hummer, Celebrant. Burial will follow in St. Margaret Cemetery. Friends may call 5-7 pm Friday in the Haller Funeral Home, where a Wake Service and Rosary will be held at 7:00 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to the Adena Health Foundation, Hospice Program, 272 Hospital Road, Chillicothe, the American Cancer Society, 138 Marietta Road, Chillicothe, or the American Heart Association, PO Box 182039 Dept. 013, Columbus, OH 43218-2039.