Richard Cook, AGe 95

Richard A. Cook, age 95, Concordia, died February 22, 2017 at Marquis Place in Concordia. Mr. Cook was born November 10, 1921 at Concordia, the son of the late George H. and Minnie Austin Cook. He graduated from Concordia High School in 1940 and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps while a student at Fort Hays State College when World War II began in 1941. He served in the Pacific Theater during the war and as a company commander of occupation troops in Japan and later at Camp Pendleton, California. The Marine Corps recalled him to active duty again during the Korean War.

Mr. Cook earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from University of Kansas and was employed by General Finance Incorporated and Cloud Ceramics in 1947. He served as president, general manager, chairman of the board of directors and administrator of the company's profit sharing plan from 1975 to 1992 and later held the position of CEO of the corporation and chairman of the Cook Foundation until he retired in 1998.

Mr. Cook served on the board of directors of the First National Bank, First Bank & Trust and UMB National Bank of America from 1967 to 1998. He served on the Board of Advisors for the KU School of Business, the Advisory Council of the State Geological Survey in Lawrence and on Concordia's first Industrial Development Committee.

Mr. Cook was a member of the First United Methodist Church. He also belonged to the National and Kansas Society of the Sons of the American Revolution where he was a George Washington Fellow. He was a life member of VFW Post 588, American Legion Post 76 and the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation. He was a member of the Jayhawk Society Kansas Alumni Association, National Skeet Shooting Association, National Rifle Association, Ducks Unlimited, Trout Unlimited, Federation of Fly Fishers, Concordia Loyal Order of the Moose Club, Cloud County Historical Society, American Ceramic Society and former member of the Elks Club. Richard was a Rotary Foundation Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International, a past president and 37 year member of the Concordia Rotary Club.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Pauline E. Cook, his parents, George and Minnie Cook and his brother, Dr. George H. Cook.

Survivors include his two daughters; Suzanne Pickering (Robert) & Melissa Cook and friend Terry Melton; one grandson, Lucas Hachmeister (Stephanie); one great grandchild, Norah Hachmeister; three nieces and two nephews.

Funeral services will be at 1:30 pm, Monday, March 6, 2017 at the Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home, Concordia, with Rev. Melanie Adams officiating. Burial will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Concordia. Military honors will be conducted at the cemetery by the U.S. Marine Corp,; American Legion Post #76 & VFW Post #588 Visitation will be Sun., March 5, 2017 from 1 to 6 pm and Mon., March 6, 2017 from 8 am to 1:30 pm with the family greeting friends from 12 to 1:30 pm, Monday at Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the First United Methodist Church in care of the funeral home. For online condolences, please visit www.chaputbuoy.com.

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