Obituary for Harold C. Cook
Harold Crandall Cook was born in Beaver, Pennsylvania, to Lee and Ora Cook on April 2, 1921. He was
the youngest of three children: an older brother Lee and sister Genevieve. Harold married Esther
Shively on October 10, 1942, in Warren, Ohio. They had been married 72 years when she died in 2014.
He was the father of six children, Kathy (Jim) Teller, Wayne (Rhonda), Susan (deceased 2013), David
(Jan), Janet (Joe) Cooper, and Jeff(Amy). He has 15 grandchildren, and 27 great grandchildren. He died
peacefully on June 15, 2020, at home in the New England Club in Cincinnati.
As a youngster, Harold worked in his fathers dairy in Warren, then went to Hiram College before
marrying Esther. He enlisted in the Navy during World War II, serving in the Pacific Theater. After
returning home in 1945, he went to Ohio State University, receiving a Masters degree in food
bacteriology in 1949. Harold, Esther, Kathy, and Wayne then moved to Cincinnati when Harold accepted
a job as bacteriologist with the Cincinnati Health Department; he rose to Superintendent before retiring
in 1981. Four more children were born in Cincinnati.
Mr. Cook was a devoted member of the United Methodist Church, first in Columbus, then in
Madisonville, and finally in Anderson Township where he moved with his family in 1969 He served as
Scoutmaster for 10 years in Madisonville, 20 years as delegate to the United Methodist Annual
Conference at Lakeside, Ohio, supervisor of the church garden at Anderson Hills UMC, and member of
many church groups. After retirement from the city, he worked part-time as a bacteriologist for the
EPA, and volunteered with Esther at Woodland Mound Park and Withrow Nature Preserve. He also
delivered Meals on Wheels for the Senior Center. Harold and Esther loved to travel and for many years
enjoyed driving to Florida, took part in Elderhostel trips, camped in the U.S. and Canada, and enjoyed
Caribbean and Alaska cruises. Harold also enjoyed Honor Flight and Soaring Valor trips that honored
veterans.
Visitation will be held at Anderson Hills United Methodist Church on Monday, June 22 from 9:30 to
11am followed by a funeral service at 11am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Freestore
Foodbank or The Gary Sinise Foundation.
the youngest of three children: an older brother Lee and sister Genevieve. Harold married Esther
Shively on October 10, 1942, in Warren, Ohio. They had been married 72 years when she died in 2014.
He was the father of six children, Kathy (Jim) Teller, Wayne (Rhonda), Susan (deceased 2013), David
(Jan), Janet (Joe) Cooper, and Jeff(Amy). He has 15 grandchildren, and 27 great grandchildren. He died
peacefully on June 15, 2020, at home in the New England Club in Cincinnati.
As a youngster, Harold worked in his fathers dairy in Warren, then went to Hiram College before
marrying Esther. He enlisted in the Navy during World War II, serving in the Pacific Theater. After
returning home in 1945, he went to Ohio State University, receiving a Masters degree in food
bacteriology in 1949. Harold, Esther, Kathy, and Wayne then moved to Cincinnati when Harold accepted
a job as bacteriologist with the Cincinnati Health Department; he rose to Superintendent before retiring
in 1981. Four more children were born in Cincinnati.
Mr. Cook was a devoted member of the United Methodist Church, first in Columbus, then in
Madisonville, and finally in Anderson Township where he moved with his family in 1969 He served as
Scoutmaster for 10 years in Madisonville, 20 years as delegate to the United Methodist Annual
Conference at Lakeside, Ohio, supervisor of the church garden at Anderson Hills UMC, and member of
many church groups. After retirement from the city, he worked part-time as a bacteriologist for the
EPA, and volunteered with Esther at Woodland Mound Park and Withrow Nature Preserve. He also
delivered Meals on Wheels for the Senior Center. Harold and Esther loved to travel and for many years
enjoyed driving to Florida, took part in Elderhostel trips, camped in the U.S. and Canada, and enjoyed
Caribbean and Alaska cruises. Harold also enjoyed Honor Flight and Soaring Valor trips that honored
veterans.
Visitation will be held at Anderson Hills United Methodist Church on Monday, June 22 from 9:30 to
11am followed by a funeral service at 11am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Freestore
Foodbank or The Gary Sinise Foundation.