Charles F. "Cookie" Cooke

FLORENCE-Charles F. Cooke, 97, retired CFC US Navy passed peacefully with his family by his side on Saturday July 27, 2024. Charlie was born in Northampton in 1927, the son of Howard R. & Ethel C. (Williams) Cooke. Charlie grew up in Amherst with his thirteen siblings. He attended Amherst Public schools. He joined the US Navy in 1946 at the end of World War II. He served in the Korean War and the Vietnam War and was honorably discharged in 1971. Charlie achieved the rank of Petty Officer 2nd Class and was very proud to have served in the US Navy for 24 ½ years. He was a lifelong member of the SeaBees. He received numerous commendations and medals for his service including the Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, Vietnam Campaign & Service Medals, and the National Defense Service Medal. Charlie married Elizabeth “Bess” (Glidden) Cooke, and they resided in Florence until her passing. The neighborhood kids knew Mrs. Cooke as the “Candy Lady” and visited the house everyday for candy. Charlie reconnected with Beverly (Murray) Binette, a girlfriend from 1948 and they happily married in 1997 and spent 19 years together until her passing in 2016. Even though Charlie and Bess never had children, the neighborhood kids were like their own. They visited them often and gave them their school pictures. Later with Bev, he would become a stepfather and “Grandpa Charlie”, who loved him dearly. Charlie worked as a heavy equipment operator for Mass Highway. He retired in 1992 after 19 ½ years of service. Charlie or “Cookie” as many people called him was a dog lover, especially poodles. He was predeceased by Susie, Skipper, Rusty & Little Red. He also loved to putter around the house and tend to his yard. Charlie was predeceased by his parents, his brothers, Howard Jr., Albert, James, Richard, George, Robert and sisters, Esther, Thelma, Virginia and Jean. He leaves his stepchildren; Gary Binette Lisa VanOudenhove, Dale Binette and Helen Gibbs and her husband Douglas. His six grandchildren; Jeff and Kevin VanOudenhove, Stephen, Amanda and Melissa Binette (Hayden Rouse) and Connor Gibbs and a great grandson, Noah Rouse. He leaves his last two siblings, Roy Cooke and Mary Martin and many nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank the staff at Renaissance Manor in Holyoke for the exceptional care, love and dignity they showed Charlie this past year.

A Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday at Ahearn Funeral Home, 783 Bridge Rd., Northampton at 11:00 A.M. with burial to follow in Holy Rosary Cemetery, Hadley. A Calling hour will precede the service
from 10:00 to 11:00 A.M.

Donations in Cookie’s memory may be made to the Dakin Animal Shelter.