Dr. Harlan Walter Cooke

Dr. Harlan Walter Cooke, 73, of 2058 Cedar Gate Road, Madison Heights, Virginia, died May 20, 2010, at home with his family surrounding him. He was the husband of Barbara June Cooke. He was born in Elkhart, Kansas, on August 19, 1936, the son of Walter Abbot Cooke and Pearl E. Cooke.

Dr. Cooke pastored the Bible Baptist Church in Tahlequah. Oklahoma, the First Baptist Church in Walsh, Colorado, and the Grace Baptist Church in Madison Heights, Virginia. He founded and pastored the Fellowship Baptist Church in Lincoln, Nebraska, and the Faith Baptist Church in Madison Heights, Virginia until his retirement in January, 2008.

His higher education included graduation of an extension course from the University of Texas in 1960; graduate of Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri, degree in Theology in 1964; graduate of Covington Theological Seminary in Rossville, Georgia, Doctor of Divinity in 1982. He was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Divinity degree from the International Bible Institute and Seminary in Orlando, Florida.

In addition to his pastoral duties, Dr. Cooke has served in many other capacities including Trustee of Temple Deaf College in Kansas City, Missouri; Director of Atlantic Baptist Bible College in Chester, Virginia; Chairman of the Nebraska and Virginia Baptist Bible Fellowships; Mission field representative of the Baptist Bible Fellowship International for the countries of Taiwan and Hong Kong; representative of the state of Virginia for the Virginia Baptist Bible Fellowship for sixteen years. He was area chairman for the American Coalition for Traditional Values, and had a weekly radio broadcast ministry for ten years. Dr. Cooke has traveled to sixteen different countries in his service for the Lord and was listed in the 1993 “Who’s Who in Religion.”

In addition to his wife, Barbara June Cooke, he is survived by four children; Monica Barringer and her husband, James, of Madison Heights, Laura Hunter and her husband, Mark, of Madison Heights, Stephen Cooke and his wife, Trisha, of Madison Heights, and Eric Cooke and his wife, Kimberly, of Gladys, Virginia; eleven grandchildren: Shane Hunter and his wife, Jelena, Brett Hunter, Blake Hunter, Lindsey Hunter, Dustin Barringer, Jared Barringer, Cody Johnson, Jillian Conner and her husband, Dustin, Nicholas Cooke, Katelyn Cooke, and Brandon Cooke; four great grandchildren, Zander Hunter, Kloey Hunter, Alyssa Conner, Ayden Conner; one brother, Marvin J. Cooke and his wife, Marylee, of Texhoma, Oklahoma.

The funeral service will be conducted at Faith Baptist Church, 3768 S. Amherst Highway, Madison Heights, Virginia on Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 2 pm. Family night will be held Friday evening, May 21, 2010 from 7-8:30 p.m. at Faith Baptist Church.

Burial will follow at Meade Cemetery in Madison Heights.

Those wishing to make memorial contributions are asked to consider Faith Baptist Church.

Whitten Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, Monelison Chapel is serving the family.