Sterling Howard Crook

Sterling Howard Crook passed away unexpectedly on December 27, 2021 at Emerald Heights in Redmond, WA. He is now resting in the loving arms of his Lord and Savior. He was born in Dallas, OR on January 12, 1948 to Raymond and Elizabeth Crook. He graduated from Dallas High School in 1966 and then from Oregon Institute of Technology with an AA degree in Electronic Engineering Technology.

Sterling went to Livermore, CA to work for Lawerence Radiation Laboratory for a year before he enlisted in the Navy in 1969. He served for almost four years before he was released early because the Vietnam War was winding down. After discharge, Sterling felt the calling to go to Bible school. He attended Northwest College in Kirkland (now Northwest University) on the GI Bill. He graduated with a Major in Ministry and a Minor in Counseling. After graduation he moved to Enterprise, OR where he worked as an associate/youth pastor.

When he returned to Washington, Sterling used his electronics degree to get a job at Rocket Research on Willows Road in Redmond, WA. In the 35 + years of working at the "rocket factory" the company changed ownership five times. He did take a voluntary layoff to go to Riverside, CA to work at Teen Challenge. Sterling loved testing rocket engines placed on GPS and communication satellites to keep them in the correct orbit. His company also worked on the Space Station and Mars missions. Sterling retired from Areojet Rocketdyne in 2015.

Sterling dedicated his life to his faith, his family and his friends. Precede in death by his father, Raymond of Monmouth, OR; mother, Elizabeth of Salem, OR; and wife, Carla, of Woodinville, WA. He is survived by his wife , Esther; brother, Harold Crook of Salem, OR; sisters Patricia Hemelstrand of Sweet Home, OR and Phyllis Crook of Salem, OR.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Emerald Heights on January 29, 2022 at 1:00 PM . In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Sterling Crook Ministry Endowment at Northwest University in Kirkland, WA

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.floralhillslynnwood.com for the CROOK family.