Durham NC due to complications from chemotherapy. Ralph was diagnosed with stage
4 metastatic cancer in February 2019.
Visitation will be held 12pm-2pm Saturday June 8th at Blue Ridge Funeral Home in
Beckley WV. Burial to immediately follow at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens.
Ralph was born on Turkey Creek in Pineville WV. He attended school in Pineville and
after brief stints in Baltimore MD and Ohio, Ralph made Pineville his home until 2011
when he and his wife, Janice, moved to Durham NC to be closer to their grandchildren.
Ralph married Janice Waggoner, also of Pineville, on January 11, 1974. They were
married for 45 years.
Ralph enjoyed hunting, gardening and watching all sports - baseball, racing, football,
golf and hockey. He fondly recalled the Cincinnati Reds and the times of the
Big Red Machine. Ralph was partial to “winning” and this carried over into his card
playing. Ralph and Jan spent many hours over the years in very competitive gin rummy
games. Friends and family of Ralph will recall him as a good listener and a comical
story teller. His stories always began with Ralph facing insurmountable odds and
finished with deep belly-filled laughter. Ralph’s perseverance will be missed and he
leaves us with many wonderful memories.
Ralph is survived by his wife, Janice Waggoner Cook; son, Bryan “Rusty” Cook;
daughter, Marilyn “Loopy” Griffin of Durham NC; and grandchildren: Ayla, Sophie and
Harry Griffin. He is also survived by his sister, Lorene Hatfield, and sister-in-law, Peggy
Cook.
He is preceded in death by his parents, H. Wade and Nina Cook, and siblings: Ed Cook,
Paul Cook and Merrilee Bailey; and wife, Judy.
In lieu flowers, please consider a donation to your local hospice care facility.
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