Willis W. (Bill) Cook

WWII veteran was Agency on Aging retiree. Willis W. (Bill) Cook, 85, of Washington, died unexpectedly Sunday, April 22, 2007, in his home. Mr. Cook was born August 16, 1921, in St. Joseph, Mo., a son of Arthur L. and Sarah Davis Cook. After graduating from high school, he served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II. He was Protestant. In 2005, he retired from his work as a job development specialist with Southwestern Pennsylvania Area Agency on Aging. Prior to that, he worked for Consolidated Freightways, had served as director of traffic for National Freightways in Vineland, N.J., was once vice president of Wolmeldorf Truck Lines Inc. and served as traffic manager for Gerber Products in Rochester, N.Y., and Quaker Oats Co. in Shiresmanstown. In years past, he had been president of the St. Joseph chapter of Delta Nu Alpha Transportation Fraternity, secretary of St. Joseph Traffic Club, president of Rochester, N.Y., Transportation Council of the Chamber of Commerce and chairman of the transportation committee of Associated New York Food Processors, the transportation council of Associated Industries of New York State and the National Defense Transportation Organization in Harrisburg. Mr. Cook was active in Boy Scouts of America, having been a scoutmaster in Memphis, Tenn., Kansas City, Mo., and Harrisburg. In St. Joseph, he was a neighborhood commissioner and member of the Pony Express Council. He was a member of American Society of Traffic and Transportation, Loyal Order of Moose 22 and Edwin Scott Linton Post 175 of American Legion. On December 21, 1941, he married Eleanor Johnson, who died in December 1980. On March 28, 1981, he married Beatrice "Betty" Stites, who survives. Also surviving are two sons, Willis W. (Carol) Cook Jr. of Burlington, Iowa, and Richard M. (Ann) Cook of Canoga Park, Calif.; two daughters, Cheryl (Albert) Schumacher of Eighty Four and Billie Stites (Steve) Bilko of Canonsburg; 11 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. Deceased are a sister, Geraldine Allison; a brother, Arthur L. Cook Jr.; and a grandchild, Terri Lynn Cook. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday in William G. Neal Funeral Homes Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington, where services will be held at 2:15 p.m. Wednesday, April 25, with Pastor Floyd Marasco officiating. Burial will follow in Washington Cemetery. Military rites will be performed at graveside by Edwin Scott Linton Post 175 American Legion.