Noble Elwin Cook passed away Monday, November 16, 2015 at Providence Hospice after an extended illness, at the age of eighty-eight years.
Memorial Service: 2p.m. Saturday, November 28th at Woodway First United Methodist Church, 21000 Woodway Drive in Waco.
Elwin was born October 31, 1927, in Laclede County, Missouri to Robert Lester Cook and Christa Winona Cook. He was the oldest of four children. The family moved to Grove, Oklahoma where Elwin graduated from high school. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1946 and served until the formation of the United States Air Force, and then transferred and served with the Air Force until his retirement in 1968. He discovered his love of flying while serving as a radio operator/engineer on various aircraft types, at one point evacuating wounded soldiers from Korea. He was grounded when lightning struck his aircraft while he was wearing earphones, damaging his hearing. He spent the rest of his career training radio operators and flight engineers.
After the Air Force, he worked for a time with his brother in law, Lloyd Waner, obtaining lease rights for oil companies and later worked for the state of Oklahoma as a property tax auditor. He retired from the state of Oklahoma in 1985, and moved to Waco to be near his son and grandchildren.
Elwin never lost his love of flying. He obtained a private pilot license in the 1960s and continued to fly the rest of his life. He began construction on a light sport aircraft at the age of 76, and completed it at the age of 83. Unfortunately, he was able to fly it only once and was then grounded due to a heart condition. He stayed active in Chapter 59 of the Experimental Aircraft Association for the remainder of his life where he had many close friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Bill Cook; sisters Eva Ruth Connell and Mary Lou Waner; and nephew Gene Ed Cook.
He is survived by his son, Michael Cook; grandsons, Michael Cook and fiancé Lucinda Reed, and Brian Cook and wife Nicky; half brother, Bobby Cook; brothers in law, Jerry Connell and Lloyd Waner; nieces, Jeri Lea Stevens and husband Gary, Betsy Waner and Lagenia Cook; nephews, Thomas Connell and wife Lauri Andy Waner; grandniece, Christina Berry and husband Jacob, and their children Eva and Colton.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate gifts to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Texas Children’s Hospital, or Woodway First United Methodist Church.
Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online Guest Book at www.LakeShoreFH.com.
Contact information:
Lake Shore Funeral Home & Cremation Services
Place of Service: Woodway First United Methodist Church , 21000 Woodway Drive; Woodway, TX 76712
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Elwin was energetic and inspiring, even in his 80’s. He was a very kind and thoughtful man. We will always remember him with great fondness.
Continued prayers for comfort and peace. Our thoughts and prayers remain with you. Tammera Ryan ~ on behalf of the staff and volunteers of Providence Hospice.
Will miss Elwin and his “dropping” in visits on his way to the Mcgregor Airport. Many stories he shared as well as showing us his airplane. Wish I could send a picture we had with him when he attended our 50th anniversary and , also, one with his “prize” –the airplane he built!
Praying for family with this loss. We regret we will not be able to attend as our family is having Thanksgiving on Saturday in College Station.