Virginia S Cooke

Ginny was born to Clara Virginia Gable and Mathias Smyser in York, Pennsylvania where she spent her childhood. As an only child, she was adored by her parents and extended family. She met and later married Ernest Edward Cooke Jr., her teenage sweetheart, on April 9, 1943. She and her husband, Buck, remained married until he passed away in 1985. Buck and Ginny had two daughters, Virginia (Ginger) and Barbara (Bobbi) whom they raised in Baltimore County, Maryland.

Ginny Cooke completed her high school education at Southern Seminary in Virginia. She attended Edgewood Park College in New York, where she majored in home economics. She remained at home with her daughters, occasionally working as a substitute teacher at a private school in Baltimore. She was an active member of the Roland Park Women's Club. She did volunteer work in the local hospitals and enjoyed traveling. Ginny was a member of one of the early tour groups to visit China in 1988 when that country began to encourage tourism. She loved gardening and was a long time member of the Stoneleigh Garden Club. She enjoyed the outdoors, especially family vacations at Bethany Beach, Delaware and fishing with her long time friend, Judy Keyser, at her family’s home in Fairfield, Pennsylvania. Ginny was also an avid golfer, a competitive bridge player and an accomplished knitter. She especially enjoyed knitting creative sweaters for her grandchildren.

In 1994, Ginny moved to Broadmead where she engaged in numerous activities with her many friends. She served as the social chair for her cluster. She was proud of her patio garden and spent hours planting, pruning and weeding to keep her flowers looking their best. She took art classes and experimented with watercolors, oils and even sculpture. She continued her bridge playing and was a member of several different bridge groups. She enjoyed learning to play new games and always played to win. Ginny, also, volunteered her time every week delivering "water cups" to those residents who were bed ridden. She especially enjoyed her friendship with Fran Beasley, loving the opportunity to help Fran care for her little Shih Tzu pup, Jason.

Ginny Cooke was a lively, engaging woman who enjoyed people and was devoted to her family. She lived her life to the fullest, a life filled with fun, lasting and meaningful friendships, a grounded faith and a loving family. She is now reunited with her beloved husband, mother and father.

Ginny is survived by her two daughters, Virginia Robbins and husband Joe of Katy, Texas and Barbara Christiansen and husband Stephen of Darnestown, Maryland. She is also survived by five grandchildren, Erin Malone and husband Brahm; Kelly Keith and husband Chris; Nicholas Christiansen; Courtney Wingate and husband Greg; and Kendall Allen and husband Brian. She is also survived by six great grandchildren, Logan, Chase and Delaney Malone; Adley and Micah Allen; and William Keith. She was fortunate to have known all six great grandchildren and doted on the many pictures of them that regularly came her way.

Ginny was laid to rest on June 30, 2012 at Prospect Hill Cemetery in York, Pennsylvania following a memorial service at Broadmead.

The family thanks the staff at Broadmead and Gilchrist Hospice for the loving care they extended to both Ginny and her family during Ginny’s final days.

Expressions of sympathy may be directed in Mrs. Cooke’s memory to the American Cancer Society, 8219 Town Center Drive, Baltimore, MD 21236.