William "Bill" H. Cook Jr.

July 11, 1922 - August 12, 2018

WILLIAM H. “Bill” COOK Jr., 96, of Eau Claire, a highly decorated World War II veteran, passed away Sunday (08-12-18) morning at Orchard Manor Nursing Home in Grove City following an illness. Born in Argentine, Butler Co. on July 11, 1922, he was the son of the late William H. Sr. and Barbara Ryder Cook. Bill attended Bethel United Methodist Church in Eau Claire, and had attended the former North Washington High school. He owned and operated a grocery store in Cortland Ohio for years, and then moved to Safety Harbor Florida where he owned and operated the same type grocery business until retirement. Bill served in the U.S. Army during World War II from March 10, 1943 to honorable discharge on November 1, 1945, discharged with rank of Private First Class.  He served in Southern and Northern France, Normandy, Ardennes, Rhineland, and all of central Europe. A member of the Airborne, he parachuted into Normandy on June 6, 1944 and Holland on Sept. 17, 1944 going into battle in both invasions. For his actions, he was awarded the EAME Theater Service Medal with seven stars, Purple Heart with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Arrowhead, Parachutist Badge, and Distinguished Unit Badge with three Oak Leaf Clusters. He is survived by his wife, Margaret “Peggy” Martin Miller Cook whom he married Oct. 21, 1994; stepdaughter Tracy (Jim) Weeter of Knox, six step grandchildren, six step-great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. The last surviving member of his immediate Cook family, he is survived by brothers-in-law Robert Martin and Eugene Bonetti and sisters-in-law Juanita Martin and Doris Martin and Margaret "Maggie" Cook. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Dorothy Margaret Shaner Cook who passed away June 20, 1991, three sisters:  Shirley Bonetti, Florence Gladd, and Mildred Fleming, and seven brothers:  Earl, Albert, Keith, Paul, Glenn, Ron, and Don Cook, and a step-son Brent A. Miller. Visitation will be held from 1:00 to 2:00 PM Friday at Bethel United Methodist Church in Eau Claire.  A veteran memorial service will precede the funeral service at 2:00 PM, which will be conducted by Rev. Sarah Adkins, church pastor, and Rev. Dan Myers, ret. Methodist pastor.  Private inurnment will follow at Eau Claire Cemetery. Members of VFW and American Legion of Parker will conduct the veteran service.   to view/send condolences, flowers, sympathy cards visit www.buzardfuneralhomes.com In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials in Bill's name be made to the Bethel United Methodist Church. P.O. Box 192 Eau Claire, Pa 16030   Funeral Service Prayer Service Committal Service