Charles
Charles Wyatt Cook
Charles Wyatt Cook
, 96, of Sun Lakes, Arizona passed away peacefully on October 23, 2022, in Mesa, Arizona.
Charles was born on March 4, 1926, to Odell Jarrett Cook and Charles Wyatt Cook in Blytheville, Arkansas. He lived in the area surrounding Blytheville while growing up. He picked cotton when he was young as his family was farmers. When he was in high school his mother purchased a dry cleaners, which he worked in after school. He loved to play sports in his free time. He would talk about making his own baseballs out of cork and rubber bands with a coating of compo cement. He attended Blytheville High School and graduated in 1944.
On July 13, 1944, he enlisted in the US Navy. He was sent to code breaker school in Chicago. During this time the European arena was winding down and he chose to go to the Pacific Fleet as the need for code breakers declined. He was assigned to the US Nautilus AS 17, which was at the Treasure Island Naval Station waiting commissioning. During a routine “shake down” cruise he was injured which resulted in him being sent to the hospital in Vallejo needing for surgery on his shattered knee. He spent six months recuperating from the knee surgery before being discharged on Friday July 13, 1946. After being honorably discharged he attended Arkansas State University graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in business in 1948. It was here that he met his future wife, Susie Baldridge when his Sigma Pi fraternity decided to date the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority. Charles and Susie were married on January 25, 1948.
Charles and Susie then entered long careers in education. Charles was a principal at Caraway High School, which was in Susie’s hometown. With the approaching arrival of their first child, they moved to California. Charles was employed most of his career with the Anaheim Union High School District. He began as a math teacher at Western Junior High school and ended his career as the Director of Child Attendance and Welfare. He retired in 1984.
Charles also worked at Disneyland from the time it opened in 1955 until 1959. He met Walt Disney before the park opened. He started off as the ride operator for the Casey Junior Circus Train, then Dumbo and finally the Matterhorn. He also taught night school, sold insurance and annuities and had his real estate license.
Charles got the most enjoyment out of playing golf. He played weekends when he was working and three to four times a week in retirement. He enjoyed helping others improve their game. He even coached a golf club at Anaheim High School.
Charles is survived by his wife of 74 years, Susie Baldridge Cook, his daughter
Wynette Cook Augustine (Greg), grandson Jason Augustine (Amber), granddaughter Dallas Augustine, great grandson Cameron Augustine and half-brother Clark Cook (Karen).
Services will be held at the Riverside National Cemetery on March 3, 2023, at 10:00 am.
, 96, of Sun Lakes, Arizona passed away peacefully on October 23, 2022, in Mesa, Arizona.
Charles was born on March 4, 1926, to Odell Jarrett Cook and Charles Wyatt Cook in Blytheville, Arkansas. He lived in the area surrounding Blytheville while growing up. He picked cotton when he was young as his family was farmers. When he was in high school his mother purchased a dry cleaners, which he worked in after school. He loved to play sports in his free time. He would talk about making his own baseballs out of cork and rubber bands with a coating of compo cement. He attended Blytheville High School and graduated in 1944.
On July 13, 1944, he enlisted in the US Navy. He was sent to code breaker school in Chicago. During this time the European arena was winding down and he chose to go to the Pacific Fleet as the need for code breakers declined. He was assigned to the US Nautilus AS 17, which was at the Treasure Island Naval Station waiting commissioning. During a routine “shake down” cruise he was injured which resulted in him being sent to the hospital in Vallejo needing for surgery on his shattered knee. He spent six months recuperating from the knee surgery before being discharged on Friday July 13, 1946. After being honorably discharged he attended Arkansas State University graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in business in 1948. It was here that he met his future wife, Susie Baldridge when his Sigma Pi fraternity decided to date the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority. Charles and Susie were married on January 25, 1948.
Charles and Susie then entered long careers in education. Charles was a principal at Caraway High School, which was in Susie’s hometown. With the approaching arrival of their first child, they moved to California. Charles was employed most of his career with the Anaheim Union High School District. He began as a math teacher at Western Junior High school and ended his career as the Director of Child Attendance and Welfare. He retired in 1984.
Charles also worked at Disneyland from the time it opened in 1955 until 1959. He met Walt Disney before the park opened. He started off as the ride operator for the Casey Junior Circus Train, then Dumbo and finally the Matterhorn. He also taught night school, sold insurance and annuities and had his real estate license.
Charles got the most enjoyment out of playing golf. He played weekends when he was working and three to four times a week in retirement. He enjoyed helping others improve their game. He even coached a golf club at Anaheim High School.
Charles is survived by his wife of 74 years, Susie Baldridge Cook, his daughter
Wynette Cook Augustine (Greg), grandson Jason Augustine (Amber), granddaughter Dallas Augustine, great grandson Cameron Augustine and half-brother Clark Cook (Karen).
Services will be held at the Riverside National Cemetery on March 3, 2023, at 10:00 am.
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