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July 14, 1938 — June 7, 2024
It is with great sadness that the Cook family announces the passing of their beloved husband, father,
grandfather, great grandfather and uncle.
Douglas Cook was born in 1938 to Weeks and Marion Cook of Las Vegas Nevada...One of 5 siblings he
preceded in death by brothers’ Bill, Tom, Fred and sister Marilyn (Sissy).
He was very active in sports and played football for both Las Vegas High School, Wildcats and was the
very first Most Valuable Player for the Bishop Goman High School, Gaels.
It was in Las Vegas that his dream of flying originated, observing P-51 Mustangs out of Las Vegas Army
Airfield (later named Nellis AirForce Base) flying over his house and where he first saw those supernatural
beings called Fighter Pilots. Las Vegas is also where he met the love of his life Jane Walker, who moved
into his neighborhood just one house down from his own when they were both 12 years old.
After high school, he joined the Army but quickly transferred to the AirForce in search of his dream of flight.
He commanded a radar sight in Alaska, returned to the continental US attended OCS (Officer Candidate
School) and receive his Commission in June of 1960. He then, very romantically in a car, asked the love
of his life, if she didn’t have anything better to do, would she be his wife. Douglas Cook and Jane Walker
were married on June 11 1960 and began what Jane called an amazing journey and adventure together
to faraway places lasting 64 years.
Their son John was born a year later as Douglas was becoming a B-47 Navigator stationed at SAC
(Strategic Air Command) in Lincoln Nebraska. A year later his son Mark was born shortly before he was
sent on TDY (Temporary Duty) to the UK during the Cuban missile crisis. Three years later, his little girl
Marian arrived just prior to their departure from Lincoln to Mountain Home Idaho where his aircraft
commander Col Keith Nystrom directed him to go to Flight school. |