Billie Forest Cooke

Bill “Lefty” F. Cooke, age 89, of Newton, passed away on Saturday, July 2, 2016 at Catawba Valley Medical Center in Hickory. He was the son to the late Gerome McCoy Cooke and Haddie Flora Ellen Costner Cooke.

Bill was a veteran of the U.S. Navy where he served during WWII. He retired from Carolina Mills after more than 30 years. Bill was a member of Trinity Reformed United Church of Christ in Conover where he was a youth leader and school teacher for many years. He was a graduate of Bellwood High School in Cleveland County.

Bill was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 1944 and was known as “Lefty Cooke.” He played baseball for the Newton-Conover Twins and coached youth baseball and basketball with the Newton Recreation Department. Bill loved playing horseshoes and won many tournaments as well as relaxing by the lake with a fishing pole in hand.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Mildred Setzer Cooke; and brothers, Edgar Cooke, Joe Z. Cooke, and Vernon Cooke.

Those left to cherish his memory are his sons, Chris Cooke and wife, MaryAnn of Conover, and Bryan Cooke and wife, Dawn of Hickory; daughters, Terry Aulbert and husband, Van of High Point, and Melinda Hodge and husband, Scott of Newton; grandchildren, Matt and wife, Amy Hodge, Adam and wife, Kailee Hodge, Blake Cooke and fiancée, Whitney Arrington, Lindsey Cooke, Sarah and husband, Jon Byrd, Cassie and Kevin Cooke, Amber Ingle, Amanda and husband, Travis Hoke, Shelby Osborne; great-grandchildren, Jaden and Madison Ingle, Bennett and Jenna Byrd, Tinley Hodge, Caleb Mitchem, and Taylor Melker; and lifelong friend, Julia Stallings.

A Service of Remembrance will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 6, 2016 at Trinity Reformed U.C.C. in Conover with Rev. Peggy Stout officiating. Burial will follow with military rites at Catawba Memorial Park in Hickory.

The family will receive friends prior to the service from 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 at the church.

Memorials may be made to Trinity Reformed United Church of Christ, 217 2nd Ave. NE, Conover, NC 28613.