Ralph Weldon Cooke was born November 22, 1924, at home in Reagor Springs, TX to Frank and Una Cooke. He departed from this life February 6, 2022. Ralph was raised in Reagor Springs and was the 7th of 12 children. Ralph served in the Korean War for 2 years and worked on the railroad in Korea. Ralph was a strong faithful Christian and served as an elder at College Street Church of Christ for many years. He was a cabinet maker, house builder, and loved to make things out of wood. He was the director of the College Street and Brown Street Christian Care Center for many years. He loved sitting on the back porch watching the birds and hummingbirds eat from the bird feeders, and every now and then running off a squirrel or two with the slingshot he made.
Ralph is survived by his wife of 61 years, Juanita Cooke; two sons Layne Cooke and wife Anne of Arlington, TX and son Kevin Cooke and wife Sherri of Waxahachie, TX; grandchildren Branden Walker of Austin, Ian Cooke, Kellen Cooke and Caitlin Cooke of Arlington, TX, Kasey Cooke of Red Oak, TX, and Taylor Cooke of Red Oak, TX; brothers, Wendall Cooke and wife Marva of Waxahachie, TX, and Billy Joe Cooke and wife Evelyn of Waxahachie, TX; sisters, LaRue Dyess of San Antonio, TX and Betty Jane Venable of Midlothian, TX; brothers-in-law Donald Patman and Lemuel Lord; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was proceeded in death by his first wife, Catherine Osborne Cooke, who passed away in childbirth; parents Frank and Una Cooke; brothers, Hollis Cooke and wife Beatrice, Fred Cooke and wife Anna; sisters Phama Garritson and husband Loyd, Ina Mae Nash and husband Wesley, Geneiva Dyess and husband Wesley, Frankie Lord and Mary Evelyn Patman; brothers-in-law, Red Dyess and Sonny Venable.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorials be made to the Christian Care Center, c/o Brown Street Church of Christ, 2471 Brown Street, Waxahachie, TX 75165.