Dear Children of John Cook,
Forty years ago, when you were small children, I was your next door neighbor at 655 E. University.  On Labor Day, 2021, I was in Fresno driving past the old house and I saw a man sitting on the porch of 649 so I stopped to say hello.  It was your father of course and we both soon realized we knew each other and had been neighbors.  We had a lovely chat and it was so nice to visit with your father after so much time had passed.  He spoke so well of both of you.  I was sorry to hear of the loss of your mother at that time, and so very sorry to find your father's obituary now.  I was preparing to send him a Christmas card and now, sadly, I am sending you condolences instead.  Please accept my sincere sympathy.
 - Patricia Vial

John was my friend for 64 years. As 10 year olds we shared the Veterans Hospital/Alice Birney neighborhood. Playing football at the Birney playground or hide & seek in the vast VA Hospital grounds are memories of John I hold dear. We attended High School together at good old SJM where we rebelled against our Christian Brother teachers. I remember John as an enthusiastic member of the Cheer Leading Squad. I would tease him about the tighty whitey shorts they wore and the silly jumping around they did. John would just laugh and then tell me, but I’m with the girls. We later teamed up at the Fresno Air National Guard as fellow Security Policemen. We served and protected together for over 20 years. I’ll always remember John starting up a football game during our 1969 Summercamp  deployment to Gulfport Mississippi. We used a full can of beer for a ball because hurricane Camille had hit 4 hours earlier and the 45mph wind and driving rain made it impossible to use a real football. John called the game when we couldn’t stand up anymore. We all ran to our barracks and hunkered down for the next 18 hours. There were memorable hunting trips also. One Pheasant hunting trip John had me sit in the bed of his old green Chevy PU while he drove so I could shoot right out of the truck bed and it worked. On a deer hunt together behind Pine Flat Lake one day we saw 50 plus deer and not one Buck to shoot at. Whenever we got together for a burger at The Triangle that hunt would usually be a topic. We loved to reminisce about our times together at our Security Police retirees semi annual BBQ’s or the monthly breakfasts. John was a lifelong friend that I will truely miss. May God give peace and comfort to John’s Children, grandchildren and all his family. John is in good hands with our Savior.

John Cook was One of my trainers when I joined the National Guard after my Active Duty Service in the Army . He did a very good job, and helped me adjust to the Air Force way. Through Our time together, we became good friends, and always had each other's back. His story of survival, is incredible. It's a very sad time, when we have to say goodbye and hear Taps send him off. But We ALL know that time is inevitable and means we are moving closer to God Our Heavenly Father. Rest In Eternal Peace Brother Warrior, Your Life truly mattered. Thank you for your courageous Service for Our Republic.

For us we will remember John on our daily walks as our lovely neighbor who always greeted us in a friendly, cheerful manner as he tended  his rose bushes  or sat in his front yard.   He will be missed but not forgotten.   Gloria & John

OBITUARY

John Joseph Cook

April 6, 1949 – September 20, 2022

Whitehurst Sullivan Burns & Blair Funeral Home

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