Charles Edward Cooke, age 97, resident of Shelby, died Thursday, January 15, 2015, in Ohio Health MedCentral/Shelby Hospital.
Born July 14, 1917 in Plymouth Township to Walter and Fanny (Whatman) Cooke he had been a lifelong Shelby resident. A 1934 graduate of Shelby High School, he was a proud WWII veteran serving in the 139th field artillery of the Army’s 38th Division in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater. His passion was farming but he also worked at Carton Service and the Wilkins Air Force Depot.
Ed was a member of the First United Church of Christ, Shelby American Legion and the Farm Bureau. An avid sports fan, he loved watching the Shelby Whippets, OSU Buckeyes and the Cleveland Indians and Browns. He also enjoyed gardening and playing cards. A caring, compassionate man, his greatest love of all was being with his family.
He is survived by his children, Carol (Mel) Shults of Mansfield, Linda Gundrum (Lanny Gooding) of Shelby, Fred (Lynn) Cooke of Shelby, Sue (Roger) Daniel of Tiro; 12 grandchildren, Sara Shults, Jeff and Todd Gundrum, Kelly (Todd) Schroeder, Allison (Jay) Fordyce, Charlie (Kyle) Cooke, Kenny Daniel (Adoma Bah), Marshall Daniel (Sara Eshelman), Ben Daniel (Steph Bowman) Audrea Daniel (Travis Wenger), Randy Shults, Michelle Shults; 15 great-grandchildren, Carter, Cade, Ella, Brooklyn, Evan, Carmen, Grady, Ashley, Olivia, Will, Kayne, Kash, KC, Jessica, and Jarred.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Agnes (Sutter) Cooke on Jan. 2, 1978 ; his siblings, Walter, Rex, and Maurice Cooke, Hazel Brooks, Dorothy Mackey, Wanda McKinney, Luella Cooke, and infant brothers, Leonard and Virgil Cooke.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, January 20, 2015, at the First United Church of Christ, 23 Church St., Shelby. Reverend Bob Flint will officiate with interment in Oakland Cemetery. Military honors will be provided by the Richland County Veterans Burial Detail. Friends may call at the Barkdull Funeral Home on Monday from 5 to 8 p.m. and Tuesday 10 to 11 a.m. at the church. Memorial expressions may be made to the church, Shelby FFA Buyer’s Club, and Shelby Help Line Ministries.
Online condolences may be made at www.barkdullfuneralhome.com
