W. Richard Cook

W. Richard Cook, age 82, of Wesbury Retirement Community, formerly of North East, passed away Friday, February 9, 2018. He was born in Erie on September 1, 1935, son of the late Walter and Caroline Cook.

Dick worked in outside sales at Electric Materials for 36 years until his retirement. He was active for many years with Wesley United Methodist Church where he served as an usher, Sunday school teacher and on the Administrative Board. Dick was also active with the Gideons as a speaker and in the distribution of Bibles. He has served as Director of the Ashram at Wesley Woods and took mission trips to Mission Ready in North Carolina. Dick was a member of Koinonia of Erie County and loved the experience. He participated with the State Police of Crawford and Erie Counties Company 3 and was a veteran of the U.S. Navy Reserves for 16 years.

Dick is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 61 years, Elaine Cook; two children, Tim Cook (Gail) and Janell Contrael (Barry); one sister, Helen Cook (Dick); one brother, Bob Cook (Cathy); five grandchildren, Brandon Cook (Rachel), Tiffany Cook, Katlynd Sunjic (Tony), April Dahlin (Brett) and Kelly Contrael; two great-grandchildren, Jonah Sunjic and Kennedy Rae Dahlin; and many nieces and nephews.

Friends will be received at the Wesley United Methodist Church, on the corner of Station and South Streets, on Saturday, February 24, from 2 pm until the time of the Memorial Service there at 4 pm conducted by Rev. Pamela Gardner, Wesley United Methodist Church and Rev. Samuel Marchetta, Chaplain of Wesbury. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be designated to The Gideons International, Erie East Camp, PO Box 10414, Erie, PA 16514. Arrangements are being handled by the Dusckas Funeral Home, Inc. - East.