Robert Perry "R.P." Cooke ~ 2007
Daily Advance Sep 5, 2007
Robert Perry "R.P." Cooke, 82, of 1041 Northside Road, Elizabeth City, died
Monday, Sept. 3, 2007, after several years of declining health.
Mr. Cooke was born April 14, 1925, in Halifax County to Charles Wesley
Cooke and Cookie Powell Cooke. He and his twin brother, Tab, were the
youngest of seven brothers and sisters.
Trooper Cooke served the Albemarle area of eastern North Carolina for 40
years.
From 1951-79, Cooke served as a North Carolina highway patrolman. He was
stationed mainly in Elizabeth City and served rotating shifts on the
northern Outer Banks. His many and colorful Patrol stories included
discovering moonshine stills, rescue efforts during the famous Ash
Wednesday storm of the early 1960s, and chauffeuring governors.
In 1980, he was appointed a magistrate in Pasquotank County of the 1st
Judicial District, serving until 1991.
He was a member of Berea Baptist Church and New Lebanon Masonic Lodge #314.
Cooke was also a World War II veteran, having served in the U.S. Navy in
New Guinea and the Philippines.
His friendly nature and quick wit will be missed by all who knew him.
Cooke is survived by his wife of 46 years, Janet Hunter Cooke; two daughters
and their families, Judy and Michael McCreery of Garner, and their children,
Ashley and Scott; Barbara and Mark Batten of Rocky Mount, and daughter,
Morgan.
Cooke is also survived by a sister, Louise Lowman of Roanoke Rapids, and
many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by brothers Bill, Tab, Sanford and Wesley Cooke,
and a sister, Virginia Parrish.
A funeral service will be held Thursday, Sept. 6 at 2 p.m. at Berea Baptist
Church with the Rev. Glenn Greenway officiating.
Burial will follow in Memory Gardens Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at
Twiford Funeral Home, 405 East Church St., Elizabeth City.
Memorial contributions be made to the Berea Baptist Church Family Life
Center Building Fund, 2033 North Road St., Elizabeth City, NC 27909.
Twiford Funeral Home, 405 East Church St., Elizabeth City, N.C. is assisting
the Cooke family with arrangements.
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