Donald Paul Cook

Donald P. Cook, age 89, died at Kobacker House Hospice on Friday, May 13, 2016. He was veteran of WWII, proudly serving as a Corporal with the Marine Corps. Donald was predeceased by wife, Gwynne; and parents, George Cook and Minnie and Robert Redden. He is survived by his sisters, Bettye (Jack) Canaday of Columbus, OH, and Martha (Don) Snider of Scottsdale, AZ; and by his children, Katherine (Dave) Sites, Cynthia Cook, George (Brenda) Cook, Melinda Howells, and Julie Wilson. He is also survived by loving and attentive granddaughter, Sasha (Andrew) Hughes; and great-granddaughters, Kayla and Sophie; as well as nine other grandchildren and one other great-grandchild; and beloved goddaughter, Dawn Jarrell; and very special friend, Julie Glenn. Don was a class of 1947 graduate of Central High School, finishing up his last year of schooling after serving proudly in the Marine Corp during WWII. He enjoyed being a member of the CHS football team during his senior year. He raised his family in Whitehall, OH, where he was very active in many civic organizations. He was proud to receive the Outstanding Citizen of Whitehall award on July 4, 1969. Don and Gwynne were founding members of Reformation Lutheran Church in Whitehall. He enjoyed 40 years as a Leader with the Boy Scouts and received both the Lamb and Beaver Service Awards. He also enjoyed the 27 years that he served as the onsite coordinator for the Boy Scouts ushering at the home games of his favorite football team: the great Ohio State University Buckeyes. Don retired from North American Rockwell Aviation where he worked as an Estimating and Proposal Manager. After retirement, he and Gwynne moved to Phoenix, AZ, where they enjoyed many happy years with church, friends, traveling and taking cruises until her death in 1994. Due to health concerns, he returned to Ohio in 2009 to be near family. He enjoyed making many new friends while living at the Claremont Retirement Village, particularly enjoying his excursions with the ROMEO group (Retired Old Men Eating Out). The highlight of the past few years was his opportunity to travel with the Honor Flight of Columbus in 2012 to visit the war memorials in Washington, DC, escorted by a true angel in his guardian, Adam Gabriel, whose continued friendship meant a great deal to him. Friends may call from 9:00 am -10:30 am on Thursday, May 26, 2016 at Phoenix Memorial Park & Mortuary, 200 W Beardsley Rd Phoenix. A graveside service will be held immediately following on Thursday, May 26, 2016 at the National Memorial Cemetery, 23029 N. Cave Creek Road, Phoenix, AZ. In lieu of flowers, please consider a charity donation to: Boy Scouts of America, Simon Kenton Council, 807 Kinnear Rd, Columbus, OH, 43212; Honor Flight of Columbus, P.O. Box 12036, Columbus, OH, 43212; All Saints Lutheran Church, 15649 North 7th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85022; or the Kobacker House, 800 McConnell Drive, Columbus. OH, 43214. Please visit Phoenix Memorial Park to share a favorite memory or send a condolence.