Robert J. Cooke

Robert John Cooke, 44, of 1542 Westview Dr., Franklin died at 2:50 a.m. Wednesday February 4, 2009 at UPMC Northwest, Seneca following a courageous battle with cancer. A son of the late Robert H. Cooke and William and Bonnie Thompson Poole he was born in Grove City on October 19, 1964. He was a 1982 graduate of Franklin High School and a 1986 graduate of Clarion University with an accounting degree. Mr. Cooke was previously employed at the Regional Center for Workforce Excellence. Currently he was employed by the County of Venango as the human services fiscal officer. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing, sports and camping. He loved to socialize with family and friends and make people laugh. He particularly enjoyed coaching and spending time with children, especially his own. Mr. Cooke was a member of the Franklin Elks Lodge, Franklin Eagles and Franklin VFW. On June 25, 1994 he married the former Deanna L. Dawley who survives along with two children Tanner James Cooke and Haley Nicole Cooke both of Franklin; his parents William and Bonnie Poole of Polk; a brother Curtis Cooke and his wife Ann of Northumberland and a sister Marta Milbert and her husband Mike of Butler. Also surviving are his mother-in-law Marilyn Dawley Bodimer of Franklin, sister-in-law Pamela Patterson of Toledo, OH, brother-in-law Paul Dawley and his wife Kristin of Bethel Park and two nieces Jordyn and Gabrielle Dawley of Bethel Park. In addition to is father he was preceded in death by his grandparents Maxine and Fred Thompson, Lela and Theodore Poole, father-in-law Tedd B. Bodimer and a cousin Wayne Thompson. Friends will be received in the Huff Chapel, 312 W. Park St from noon-4 and 6-9 p.m. Friday. Visitation will continue at 10 a.m. Saturday in the First United Methodist Church, 1100 Liberty Street. Funeral services will be held in the church at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Richard Harry, pastor officiating. The family suggests memorial donations be made to The Kirtland Cancer Foundation, P.O.Box 108, Franklin PA 16323 or the Venango County Humane Society, P.O.Box 1045, Oil City PA 16301.