William Carlton Cook Jr.

William Carlton Cook Jr.

William Carlton Cook Jr. was born in Ridgeland, South Carolina to Edna (Roberts) Nettles and William Carlton Cook Sr. on February 15, 1933. He was preceded in death by his parents, four siblings, his wife Barbara Jean and his second wife Diana Karen. He is survived by his brothers Norris (Patsy) Cook and Murray Nettles, his daughters Carla Robertson (Mark), Carole Schimmick (Bob), Camille Diviney (David), and Diana’s daughters and sons Brenda Van Noy (Paul), Gordon (Grace), Laura Northcutt (Michael), and Dan (Caryn), 26 grandchildren and 39 great-grandchildren.

He lived in Ridgeland until taking a bus at 16 years of age to California to live with his dad. He accepted Christ as his Savior at the age of 16 in Encinitas. He met his wife-to-be, Barbara, at church and they were married April 15, 1951. They were married 26 years until her death in 1977. He married Diana September 15, 1978 and they were married 33 years until her death in 2012. He loved both wives dearly. Except for a short time in South Carolina in the 50s, he lived mostly in California, then in Idaho and finally he moved to Torrance to be near his daughter and son-in-law, Carole and Bob in 2014.

Throughout the years he built roads and bridges, was a mechanic, pastor/assistant pastor, Christian school principal, master mover with Allied and Global Van Lines, built DC-3s, built parts for rockets that went to the moon and for the lunar lander. After retiring he was a landscaper for years with Diana before moving to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho where they stayed active in the ministry. In spite of all of his accomplishments, what mattered the most to him was serving the Lord and telling others how to get to Heaven.

Gospel music also had a special place in his heart. beginning with singing in a Gospel quartet in 1956 to singing with Barbara and his girls for years. Gospel music continued to be a part of his life as he advanced in age. He loved to bless and encourage people he met by singing in stores, doctors offices and anywhere else he felt the need to burst into song!

The grace of God and the comfort and presence of the Holy Spirit carried him through the valleys of life as he laid to rest his first wife, Barbara, in 1977, and many years later his second wife, Diana, in 2012. At the age of 85, as he stood at the divide between life and death, he had the comfort and assurance of God’s presence and of a future with Him forever. “Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”
John 14:1-3

Dad, your family shall remember you always as a loving father and grandfather and a faithful servant of God. We look forward to the day when we will see you again and together explore Heaven’s joys and wonders.