Samuel Ronald (Sam) Cook, of Devola, age 86, died at home on June 5, 2011. He was born on July 6, 1924, on the family farm in Jasper County, Indiana, the son of Samuel E. and Eva Anita Cook. Following graduation from Francesville High School in 1942, he attended Purdue University. While at Purdue, he joined the Enlisted Reserve Corps, and he was called to active duty in the U.S. Army. He married his high school sweetheart, Eldora (Dori) Rhinehart, in 1943. He served in Europe during World War II with the 288th F.O.B., participating with General George Patton's Third Army in the Battle of the Bulge, including the freeing of Bastogne. Following the war, he attended St. Joseph's College, graduating in 1949 with a B.A. He then took a job as a door-to-door salesman with Omar Bakeries, where he was promoted and transferred to new company locations twelve times over the next sixteen years. He was eventually sent to Columbus, Ohio, from where he first managed the bakery and branch network headquartered there, and then the company's entire operations throughout the six-state area it served. In 1965 he moved to Marietta, where he worked for Broughton Foods Company, eventually serving as its chief executive officer and chairman of its board. During that time he was President of the Master Dairies Association, as well as the Ohio and West Virginia Dairy Products Associations. He retired from the company in 1996, intending to pursue his love of woodworking. However, in 1998 he agreed to be appointed to serve the first of four terms as Commissioner of Washington County. He thoroughly enjoyed his new life of public service and retired December 30, 2010. As County Commissioner he was most proud of successfully spearheading the effort to establish 911 service throughout Washington County. Through the years he was a member and leader of Christ United Methodist Church. He was an active participant in many community organizations, including the Marietta Rotary Club, Restoration '76, Inc., the United Appeal, the Marietta Chamber of Commerce, and Marietta Memorial Hospital, and he served in the highest elective office in each of those organizations, as well as in many others. In 1978, he initiated a Rotary program that educates 5-year olds in many areas of childhood safety and which was later named "Samuel R. Cook Safetytown." He was well-known as a community fund-raiser, but the establishment of the Rotary Safetytown Trust Fund was undoubtedly closest to his heart. The honors he received included being named Marietta Jaycees Citizen of the Year in 1980; Marietta Rotary Club's Rotarian of the Year in 1982 and 1993; the City of Marietta's Outstanding Citizen of the Year in 1986; Community Leader of the Year by the Telesis Class of the Marietta Area Chamber of Commerce in 1988; the Chamber of Commerce's Businessman of the Year in 1992; and the Ohio District of Civitan's Citizen of the Year in 1995. In 1999 he was awarded the Rotary International Service to Children Award by the President of Rotary International in recognition of the establishment and long-term success of Safetytown. His wife, Dori died in 1994. In 1998, he married Cheryl Carver. He is survived by his wife, Cheryl; by his children, S. Ronald (Janice) Cook, Jr., Anita (Joseph) Motil, Dennis (Wendy) Cook, and Colleen (Ted Mahone) Cook, two stepchildren J.T. Carver and Kristie Carver; his grandchildren, Carrie (Dave) Radatz, Matthew (Tracie) Motil, David (Shayna) Cook and Lauren Cook; his great-grandchildren Bridget, Avery and Chloe Radatz, Hannah Motil and a step-granddaughter, Anabelle Litwiler; and a niece, DelAnne Keller. His brother, Delos, predeceased him. Sam's greatest joy was being surrounded by his family, including at the annual summer family gathering celebrating his birthday. A funeral service will be held at Christ United Methodist Church, 301 Wooster Street on Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 2:00 p.m., with the Rev. Don Archer and the Rev. Karl Kumpf officiating. The family will receive visitors on Tuesday, June 7 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. and 6:00-8:00 p.m. and on Wednesday, June 8 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Marietta Chapel of Cawley & Peoples Funeral Home, 408 Front Street, Marietta. Following the service, full military rites will be observed at Oak Grove Cemetery. The family suggests that contributions in Sam's memory may be made to the Safetytown Trust c/o Peoples Banking & Trust Company, P.O. Box 738, Marietta, Ohio 45750, Christ United Methodist Church, 301 Third Street, Marietta, Ohio 45750, or Memorial Health Foundation, P.O. Box 97, Marietta, Ohio 45750.
