Willie F. Cook
Mr. Willie F. Cook, age 88, of Opp, Alabama died Wednesday, May 25, 2022 at his home. He was born August 8, 1933 in Ozark, AL, the son of Roy and Noma Belle Paremore Cook.
Willie graduated from Opp High School in 1951 and soon after joined the U.S. Navy. He served for 4 years active duty during the Korean Conflict and later in the Army Reserve. After finishing his active duty in the Navy, he attended Troy State University, finishing with a BS in Accounting with a minor in Education. He later received his MS in Education from the University of Alabama.
Mr. Cook has been a member of Westview Baptist Church, Opp, AL, since 1941 and has served in many leadership roles throughout the years; including deacon, teacher and choir member. He taught for the Opp City Schools for 28 years, serving as the Vocational Industrial Coordinator (VIE) for many of those. He also announced Opp Bobcat football games for 25 years, a role which combined his love for the Bobcats and supporting the students. Up until his recent health decline, he could still be seen supporting Opp students at all kinds of sports and other events. Wille was inducted into the Opp Hall of Fame in 2014. He was also a long-time member of the Lion’s Club and Trail Master’s Club.
Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Betty Jo Wilkerson Cook; children, Debbie Franklin (Donnie), Danny Cook (Kelly), Donna Simmons, and Dennis Cook (Brenda); grandchildren, Nick Franklin, Brian Simmons (Sara), Natalie Franklin Giesen (Joey), Matt Simmons (Rebecca), Nicole Cook, Hailey Cook, Dylan Cook (Meagan), Carly Culler (Matthew Bumgarner), Grace Culler and Aleigh King; 15 great-grandchildren; and several nieces & nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Noma Belle & Roy Cook; brother, Roy M. Cook; sister, Lola Mae Gamble; and mother-in-law, Willie Wilkerson.
Funeral services for Mr. Willie F. Cook will be held at 3:00 pm Sunday, May 29, 2022 from Westview Baptist Church with burial following in Peaceful Acres Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be at the church one hour prior to the service. Bro. Gary Miller and Bro. Larry Jackson will be officiating along with Brian Simmons and Matt Simmons at the graveside service. Serving as pallbearers will be Nick Franklin, Brian Simmons, Matt Simmons, Dylan Cook, Joey Giesen and David Ashe.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Westview Baptist Church, P.O. Box 305, Opp, AL (www.westviewbaptist.com); Meals of Love, P.O. Box 1129, Opp, AL 36467; or St. Jude Children’s Hospital www.stjude.org.