Robert Frederick Joseph Cooke

Robert Frederick Joseph Cooke of Van Wagenen Lane, Lomontville died Wednesday, September 29, 2010 at Benedictine Hospital. He was 82. He was born in Brooklyn, a son of the late Frederick Beach and Margaret Corcoran Cooke. When he was 17 Mr. Cooke enlisted in the US Navy during WW II. He served on the USS Topeka in the Pacific Theatre of Operations and was a skilled plane spotter. Mr. Cooke met Fredine B. Brooks at Edgewater Farms, Lomontville. They married on April 10, 1952 in Cooperstown. He worked at Hasbrouck Sweet Corn Farm, Lomontville. He later worked at Charles River Laboratories, Stone Ridge for many years and retired in 1993. He also worked at Ferroxcube. Over the years Mr. Cooke was involved with the Christian Family Movement at St. Peter's Church, Rosendale. He enjoyed gardening, baseball, the beach, building wooden ships and airplane models and attending air shows. One sister Lois Dahlenburg died previously. Surviving are his wife of 58 years, Fredine B. Cooke; two sons Robert Joseph Cooke and his wife Laura of Mt. Joy, PA, Gerard Thomas Cooke and his wife Helen of Mechanicsburg, PA; one daughter Denise Marie Hunter and her husband Vernon of Lomontville; five grandchildren Margaret, Katherine, Robert Jr. and Shawn Cooke and John Cunningham; one great granddaughter Isabella Cooke, several nieces and nephews. Reposing at the Simpson - Gaus Funeral Home, 411 Albany Ave. on Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. The funeral procession will form on Monday at 9:15 a.m. from the funeral home. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Joseph's Church at 10:00 a.m. Fr. Frank Damis will officiate. Interment, with military honors by Joyce-Schirick Post 1386, V.F.W., will be in Fair View Cemetery, Stone Ridge.