COOK, Gene Ross Age 90, of Middletown, Ohio, passed away Monday, December 22, 2014 at the V.A. Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. He was born October 14, 1924 in Middletown and served in the U.S. MarineCorps during W.W. II and the Korean Conflict and received the Korea Service Medal and three Purple Heart Medals. He was employed at several businesses including the United Welding, Armco; as an Evangelist in Cabin Creek, West Virginia; was an Ohio State Highway Patrolman for 14 years, and did private investigations in mental health for prisons and hospitals; served in the Peace Corps; trained at Ohio State University for Underwater Recovery; owned several Service Stations; worked for the Kaiser Engineers Construction; and retired to Colorado where he had horses and made leather saddles and other leather goods. He was an avid golfer, also taught golf lessons, enjoyed harness racing and was a lifetime member of the V.F.W. Preceding him in death were his father, Victor Cook; his mother, Susie Mae Kidwell Chance; Cheryl's mother, Helen Marie Cook Wortman; two brothers, Harold Cook and Joseph Ponder; and extended family, Marlene Tucker. He is survived by one daughter, Cheryl Sue Harris; Cheryl's brother, William Jeffery Wortman; two granddaughters, Pamela (Dave) Jackson and Lisa Maria (Dan) Adkins; five great grandchildren, Jeffrey (Cassie) Gentry, Bradley (Stephanie) Reffitt, Joshua (Crystal) Reffitt; Maria Adkins (Anthony Brown), and Danny Adkins; five great-great grandchildren, Gabrielle, Jocelyn, Heidi, Lily "Bug" and Jaylynn; several nieces and nephews; extended family, Genevieve Tucker and her sons, Ed and Tom Tucker; Ed's son and daughter, Eddie and Paula; and Wigg and Judy Wolfenbarger. The family extends their special thanks to Tom and Ed Tucker for their care of "Gene" and "Gen" and to Wigg and Judy Wolfenbarger for their loving care of Gene and Gen. Visitation will be Monday, December 29, 2014 from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m. at the Herr-Riggs Funeral Home, 210 S. Main St., Middletown, followed by services at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Chester Collins officiating. Interment will be at Woodside Cemetery, Middletown, with military honors by the Middletown Combined Honor Guard. Memorial contributions may be given to Pastor Collins' church, the Spring of Life Worship Center, (Mailing Address) 2001 Brell Drive, Middletown, Ohio 45042. Arrangements by Herr-Riggs Funeral Home, 210 S. Main St., Middletown. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.herr-riggs.com SEMPER FIDELIS