Elmer Cook

Elmer J. Cook, 88, died Monday, June 3, 2013, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Sept. 28, 1924, in Beckley, W.Va., to Frank and Mary Cook. He and Lois Abernathy were married April 19, 1949, in Piggott, Ark. She preceded him in death in August 2007.

Elmer joined the U.S. Navy in 1942. He was a petty officer second class serving as a torpedo man, stationed aboard the USS Orion Submarine Tender, out of Perth, Australia. He joined the U.S. Air Force in 1948 serving out of Scott Air Force Base. He was a supply sergeant, traveling to Great Falls, Mont.; Iceland, Texas, Japan and Mississippi. He then went to radar school in Denver, Colo. He first was assigned to the 85th Squadron Interceptors and then the 525 Fighter Interceptors. He worked on the weapon control systems for the F-86D and F-102 fighter jets.

After the military, Elmer operated heavy equipment, primarily graders, for Scott County Highway Department and Missouri State Highway Department, helping to construct Interstate 55 between Fruitland and Ste. Genevieve, Mo. He later worked for Walker Towing as assistant engineer on a tug boat on the Ohio River.

Survivors include three sons, Steve (Susie) Cook of Virginia Beach, Va., Jonathan (Nancy) Cook of Georgetown, Texas, Michael (Lynda) Cook of Cape Girardeau; two daughters, Amy (Steven) Esner of Long Beach, Calif., and Barb (Matt) Hopkins of Cape Girardeau; a son-in-law, Dan (Patti) Dickerson; nine grandchildren, Dana McDonald, Danette Bollinger, Derek Dickerson, Janell Vied, Matthew Cook, Jessica Brinkmeyer, Samantha Cook, Justin and Melissa Hopkins; and six great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Donna Dickerson; a grandson, Christopher Michael Cook; three brothers and six sisters.

Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at McCombs Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Tom Sullinger officiating. Burial will be in Forest Hills Cemetery in Morley, Mo.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting mccombsfuneralhome.com.