Staff Sergeant Howard Thomas Cook, 98, returned to his heavenly home on September 9, 2018, joining his wife of 70 years, Syra Cook, who passed away on June 17th of this year.
Howard was born on March 25, 1920 in Chadron, Nebraska to Sam and Lillie Cook. Years later the family moved to California and eventually settled in the small town of Taft, where Howard went to school and graduated from Taft Union High School.
In 1941, Howard entered the United States Army where he was assigned to stations in Ireland, Africa, Italy, and Malta. Howard was awarded the Purple Heart due to injuries he received in the line of duty. He was always proud to have served his country in the army and loved to share his stories with everyone he met.
Upon returning from WWII, Howard not only worked full time for Standard Oil Company for over 30 years, but held many other part time jobs in order to provide for his wife and four daughters, including one as a volunteer fireman.
After retirement, Howard and Syra moved to Grover Beach, where the two were very active in the St. Paul the Apostle Catholic community, including Howard's with the Knights of Columbus. Among the many activities he participated in, Howard's favorite was making spaghetti for the church dinners. Another one of Howard's passions was volunteering at Sierra Vista Hospital in San Luis Obispo. Knowing Howard, we are sure he brought many smiles and laughs to those he came in contact with during his time there.
Howard was preceded in death by the love of his life, Syra; his parents, Sam and Lillie; brothers, Walter and Robert; sisters, Ruth, Hazel, and Irene; and son-in-law, Ken. He is survived by his brother, Wesley (Teresa); daughters, Cecilia Patrick (Brian), Marlene Kirkpatrick, Joan Frank (Ed), and Angie White (Bill); grandchildren Tracie, Kristin, Kim, Scott, Adrienne, Erika, Tommy; and eight great grandchildren, along with many nieces and nephews.
Staff Sergeant Cook was a brave and loyal soldier, as well as a patient and loving husband and father. He married his best friend and together they were blessed with a large and loving family. He will be dearly missed by his loved ones, who celebrate the fact that he is reunited with his wife and resting in peace with his creator.
A rosary will take place at 6 p.m. on October 5th, 2018 and a Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. on October 6th, 2018 with a reception to follow in the church hall. Both services will be held at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Pismo Beach. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hoffmann Hospice or a charity of your choice.
Howard was born on March 25, 1920 in Chadron, Nebraska to Sam and Lillie Cook. Years later the family moved to California and eventually settled in the small town of Taft, where Howard went to school and graduated from Taft Union High School.
In 1941, Howard entered the United States Army where he was assigned to stations in Ireland, Africa, Italy, and Malta. Howard was awarded the Purple Heart due to injuries he received in the line of duty. He was always proud to have served his country in the army and loved to share his stories with everyone he met.
Upon returning from WWII, Howard not only worked full time for Standard Oil Company for over 30 years, but held many other part time jobs in order to provide for his wife and four daughters, including one as a volunteer fireman.
After retirement, Howard and Syra moved to Grover Beach, where the two were very active in the St. Paul the Apostle Catholic community, including Howard's with the Knights of Columbus. Among the many activities he participated in, Howard's favorite was making spaghetti for the church dinners. Another one of Howard's passions was volunteering at Sierra Vista Hospital in San Luis Obispo. Knowing Howard, we are sure he brought many smiles and laughs to those he came in contact with during his time there.
Howard was preceded in death by the love of his life, Syra; his parents, Sam and Lillie; brothers, Walter and Robert; sisters, Ruth, Hazel, and Irene; and son-in-law, Ken. He is survived by his brother, Wesley (Teresa); daughters, Cecilia Patrick (Brian), Marlene Kirkpatrick, Joan Frank (Ed), and Angie White (Bill); grandchildren Tracie, Kristin, Kim, Scott, Adrienne, Erika, Tommy; and eight great grandchildren, along with many nieces and nephews.
Staff Sergeant Cook was a brave and loyal soldier, as well as a patient and loving husband and father. He married his best friend and together they were blessed with a large and loving family. He will be dearly missed by his loved ones, who celebrate the fact that he is reunited with his wife and resting in peace with his creator.
A rosary will take place at 6 p.m. on October 5th, 2018 and a Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. on October 6th, 2018 with a reception to follow in the church hall. Both services will be held at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Pismo Beach. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hoffmann Hospice or a charity of your choice.
Staff Sergeant Howard Thomas Cook, 98, returned to his heavenly home on September 9, 2018, joining his wife of 70 years, Syra Cook, who passed away on June 17th of this year.
Howard was born on March 25, 1920 in Chadron, Nebraska to Sam and Lillie Cook. Years later the family moved to California and eventually settled in the small town of Taft, where Howard went to school and graduated from Taft Union High School.
In 1941, Howard entered the United States Army where he was assigned to stations in Ireland, Africa, Italy, and Malta. Howard was awarded the Purple Heart due to injuries he received in the line of duty. He was always proud to have served his country in the army and loved to share his stories with everyone he met.
Upon returning from WWII, Howard not only worked full time for Standard Oil Company for over 30 years, but held many other part time jobs in order to provide for his wife and four daughters, including one as a volunteer fireman.
After retirement, Howard and Syra moved to Grover Beach, where the two were very active in the St. Paul the Apostle Catholic community, including Howard's with the Knights of Columbus. Among the many activities he participated in, Howard's favorite was making spaghetti for the church dinners. Another one of Howard's passions was volunteering at Sierra Vista Hospital in San Luis Obispo. Knowing Howard, we are sure he brought many smiles and laughs to those he came in contact with during his time there.
Howard was preceded in death by the love of his life, Syra; his parents, Sam and Lillie; brothers, Walter and Robert; sisters, Ruth, Hazel, and Irene; and son-in-law, Ken. He is survived by his brother, Wesley (Teresa); daughters, Cecilia Patrick (Brian), Marlene Kirkpatrick, Joan Frank (Ed), and Angie White (Bill); grandchildren Tracie, Kristin, Kim, Scott, Adrienne, Erika, Tommy; and eight great grandchildren, along with many nieces and nephews.
Staff Sergeant Cook was a brave and loyal soldier, as well as a patient and loving husband and father. He married his best friend and together they were blessed with a large and loving family. He will be dearly missed by his loved ones, who celebrate the fact that he is reunited with his wife and resting in peace with his creator.
A rosary will take place at 6 p.m. on October 5th, 2018 and a Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. on October 6th, 2018 with a reception to follow in the church hall. Both services will be held at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Pismo Beach. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hoffmann Hospice or a charity of your choice.
Howard was born on March 25, 1920 in Chadron, Nebraska to Sam and Lillie Cook. Years later the family moved to California and eventually settled in the small town of Taft, where Howard went to school and graduated from Taft Union High School.
In 1941, Howard entered the United States Army where he was assigned to stations in Ireland, Africa, Italy, and Malta. Howard was awarded the Purple Heart due to injuries he received in the line of duty. He was always proud to have served his country in the army and loved to share his stories with everyone he met.
Upon returning from WWII, Howard not only worked full time for Standard Oil Company for over 30 years, but held many other part time jobs in order to provide for his wife and four daughters, including one as a volunteer fireman.
After retirement, Howard and Syra moved to Grover Beach, where the two were very active in the St. Paul the Apostle Catholic community, including Howard's with the Knights of Columbus. Among the many activities he participated in, Howard's favorite was making spaghetti for the church dinners. Another one of Howard's passions was volunteering at Sierra Vista Hospital in San Luis Obispo. Knowing Howard, we are sure he brought many smiles and laughs to those he came in contact with during his time there.
Howard was preceded in death by the love of his life, Syra; his parents, Sam and Lillie; brothers, Walter and Robert; sisters, Ruth, Hazel, and Irene; and son-in-law, Ken. He is survived by his brother, Wesley (Teresa); daughters, Cecilia Patrick (Brian), Marlene Kirkpatrick, Joan Frank (Ed), and Angie White (Bill); grandchildren Tracie, Kristin, Kim, Scott, Adrienne, Erika, Tommy; and eight great grandchildren, along with many nieces and nephews.
Staff Sergeant Cook was a brave and loyal soldier, as well as a patient and loving husband and father. He married his best friend and together they were blessed with a large and loving family. He will be dearly missed by his loved ones, who celebrate the fact that he is reunited with his wife and resting in peace with his creator.
A rosary will take place at 6 p.m. on October 5th, 2018 and a Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. on October 6th, 2018 with a reception to follow in the church hall. Both services will be held at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Pismo Beach. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hoffmann Hospice or a charity of your choice.
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