Ruth was born on April 5th, 1963 in Wilson, NC to her parents James H. Cooke, Sr. and Pearline Civils Cooke. Ruth graduated from New Bern High School in 1981 and was valedictorian of her class. She then attended Duke University graduating with a degree in Biology and a minor in Psychology. Ruth took a few prerequisite classes at East Carolina University before going to Emory University in Atlanta, GA where she earned her Masters Degree in Physical Therapy. Ruth worked as a Physical Therapist at Emory Hospital for three years before moving to Baltimore, MD. While in Maryland, she worked at Johns Hopkins for seven and a half years and then did home care through community hospitals as well as PRN work while she received her Masters Degree in Education. Ruth gave her life to helping people. She loved learning and had a gift for educating and encouraging those she served. Ruth was an adjunct faculty teacher at the University of Maryland and the University of Delaware where she invested in the lives of her physical therapy students. Ruth worked a total of 33 years in healthcare. She took pride in her work, her coworkers and the thousands of patients in her care.
Ruth loved being outdoors and was always up for an adventure. She traveled with friends and family to many locations around the world including Russia, Sweden, Israel, France, Spain and the Canary Islands. Ruth was an active person who loved power walks and hiking in the mountains. Ruth was a loving sister and the family peacemaker. She formed many lifelong friendships with wonderful people she met in each city in which she lived. In 2023, Ruth returned home to New Bern to be near family while fighting her battle with cancer. She was courageous and taught all of us to enjoy time with those we love. She will be terribly missed by all who were fortunate enough to call her family or friend.
Ruth is preceded in death by her mother, Pearline Civils Cooke in the year 2000. She is survived by her father, James H. Cooke Sr., three brothers, Dr. James H. Cooke, Jr. and wife Vicki of Concord, NC, Clint Cooke and wife Janet of Winterville, NC and Daniel L. Cooke and wife Felicia of New Bern, NC, one sister, Angela Cooke Blanton and husband Michael of New Bern, NC and many nieces, nephews and great nieces and great nephews.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, July 28th at 4pm at Cotten Funeral Home in New Bern, NC with the reverend Dr. Sandy Marks officiating. The family will receive friends at Cotten Funeral Home an hour prior to the memorial service.
In lieu of flowers, Ruth asked that donations be made to the SECU Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Cotten Funeral Home is honored to serve the family and friends of Lydia "Ruth" Cooke.
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