Raymond Russell Cook

Raymond Russell Cook departed this life on February 19, 2018, at Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, California.  There is no more suffering and no more weakness which he had endured for a long period of time.
Raymond was born in Stockton, Alabama on August 21, 1940.  He was the middle son of the late L J Cook and Lydia Edwards.  His formative years were spent in the Stockton, Alabama Public School System.  He graduated from Douglasville High School, class of 1958, in Bay Minette, Alabama.  Raymond received his Christian education from his parents and became a member of the Greater St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Stockton, Alabama.  He studied at Tuskegee University (Institute) where he earned his Bachelor’s of Science in Engineering and a commission in the United States Air Force.  His very first assignment was at the Los Angeles Air Force Base in El Segundo, California.  While in Los Angeles, he met and married Thelma L. Wyche of Rocky Mount, North Carolina.  He then moved on to Arizona State University to earn his Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.  While serving his country, Raymond toured all over the Unites States including Arizona, Alaska, Florida, Alabama, New Jersey, Maryland, and Washington DC, with two foreign trips to Japan and Germany.  He primarily worked as an Electronic Engineer, Communications Maintenance Officer, Instructor, and Staff Development Engineering Manager.  His last assignment was at Norton Air Force Base in San Bernardino, California where he brought his family to live in the neighboring city of Loma Linda, California.
During his military career, Raymond received numerous service awards and medals: the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal with One Oak Leaf Cluster, the National Defense Service Medal, the Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with Four Oak Leaf Clusters, the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, and the Meritorious Service Medal.  After twenty years of service, Raymond retired from the Air Force in 1983.  He worked for Rockwell International and Boeing North America as an Engineer for the next sixteen years and then retired in 1999.  He moved his family during this time to Riverside, California, where they currently reside.
Raymond enjoyed watching sports, especially baseball, basketball, football, and golf.  He looked forward to seeing the Lakers and Dodges in action.  But the one sport he loved playing himself was golf.  He joined the Western States Golf Association, Inc. and played with the Honors Golf Club in tournaments at various golf courses.  He loved seafood and enjoyed fishing, growing vegetables, strawberries, and fruit trees.  He would install and maintain the sprinkler systems throughout the yard.  Above all, he found time to spend with his family if just to go walking, ride bikes, shoot basketball in the driveway, build model cars and planes, or to teach his kids how to swim and drive stick shift.  He took much pride in building his first computer.  For years, it actually worked.  Raymond had a very active and analytical mind, which he used in creative ways to solve complex and sometimes simple problems.
Raymond was preceded in death by his father, the late L J Cook and his mother, the late Lydia Edwards Cook.  However, he leaves to cherish his memory: his devoted wife of 52 years, Mrs. Thelma W. Cook; son: Michael R. Cook of Riverside, California; and daughter: Raethael D. Cook of Mira Loma, California; two brothers Joseph E. Cook (Queen) of Greensboro, North Carolina; and Robert L. Cook (Stephenia) of Spanish Fort, Alabama; his Aunt Lelia Robinson of Bay Minette; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, and friends.