Funeral service for Robert Preston Cook will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 20th, 2018 at First Baptist Church, Lawton, Oklahoma with John Webb, minister at Cache Christian Church officiating.

Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens under the direction of Becker-Rabon Funeral Home.

Robert Preston Cook, age 97, of Cache, passed away Saturday, November 17, 2018 at his home.

Robert was born May 10, 1921 on the family farm in Comanche County to Frank and Kathryn Cook. He grew up in the Cache area, attending and graduating from Cache Public Schools. He was an avid athlete, playing basketball, baseball, and running track. After graduation, he worked with the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). He later moved to Dallas, Texas to become a supervisor and foreman with North American Aviation building P-51 Mustangs during World War II. He also served in the Army Air Corps, and was stationed in the China-Burma-India (C-B-I) Theatre.

Upon his return home, he began farming and ranching. He married Venna Lee Wallace in June of 1955. They built a home south of Cache to start their lives together, and were married 56 years before her passing in October of 2011. Robert was a devoted family man, who worked many long days and nights farming, planting wheat, raising cattle, and building fences. He was a co-owner of Cassell-Cook Dozer Service, building ponds and did general construction all over the area for more than 40 years.

He served two terms on the Cache School Board during the 1970's, and was responsible for spearheading the effort to purchase the land where a majority of Cache Public Schools now reside. Robert was a member of the Cattleman's Association, the Antique Auto Club, was a 32nd Degree Master Mason, and a long-time member of First Baptist Church. He was passionate about working hard, was mechanically gifted, and could fix just about anything. He was a devout Christian, husband, father, brother and friend, but mostly he was our hero, whom we will miss dearly and keep close to our hearts. Thank you for being a proud example, and leaving us a legacy to live by. We will love you forever.

He is survived by his son and caregiver, Stephen and wife Sandy, his sister Mary K. Howell, his grandchildren Cole Cook and wife Grace, Preston Houghton and numerous nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors.

He was preceded in death by his wife, daughter, Shelly Houghton, parents and his brothers, Joe and James Cook.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Venna Lee Cook Memorial Scholarship Fund at Cache Public Schools, 102 East H Ave., Cache, OK  73527, or to the charity of the donor's choice.