Lewis Edward Cooke Jr. - Viera

Lewis Edward Cooke (Ed), Jr. of Indian River Colony Club, died August 23, 2009 at age 90. He was born May 24, 1919 in Elmira, NY, the son of Lewis Edward Cooke and Ruth Gilland Cooke and was pre-deceased by his first wife, Doris Boyle Cooke, a brother, Alfred M. Cooke and sons, Lewis Edward Cooke, III of Myrtle Beach, SC and Lawrence B. (Larry) Cooke of Rockledge.

Edward grew up in Elmira and attended local schools. At age 16, his family moved to Sarasota, FL. he graduated from the University of Florida in Gainesville with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and entered the United States Navy as an Ensign in 1942. He served in the Pacific Theatre and later commanded a mine sweeper. He continued his military career upon discharge by serving in the Naval Reserves. Following World War II, Edward joined the work force at Florida Power & Light Company and served the company faithfully for more than 35 years.

He moved to the Cocoa area in 1964 where he was superintendent of the power plant supplying power to Cape Canaveral for the subsequent NASA moon walk program. He enjoyed the challenge of bringing this project, and also interacting with the NASA personnel and astronauts associated with the program.

In 1975 Edward was promoted to Vice-President of Nuclear Power Plants and relocated to the Miami area. He served FP&L until his retirement in 1982 and returned to Cocoa in 1988.

Ed enjoyed his retirement in the Cocoa/ Rockledge area, and was active in the IRCC Amateur Radio Club, a hobby he enjoyed with both of his sons. When the boys were young, Ed served as a scout master for their boy scout troops.

He was a life-long member of the Episcopal Church and he and his wife Bettie are members of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Cocoa.

They served as active volunteers at Wuesthoff Medical Center, and traveled extensively.

In addition to his wife, Bettie B. Keske Cooke, he is survived by two daughters-in-law, Sandra Cousins Cooke of Rockledge and Gay W. Cooke of Myrtle Beach, SC; grandchildren Larry Cooke, Jr. (Pei-lu) of Orlando and Jennifer C. Russo (Jim) of Rockledge; Dori C. Glawson (Greg) of Lawrenceville, GA; and Alan Edward Cooke of Florence SC. He is also survived by seven great-grandchildren: Anthony and Alyssa Russo of Rockledge; Michelle and Renee Cooke of Orlando; Shelly Sweatt and Brandon Glawson of Lawrenceville, GA and Bradley A. Cooke of Florence, SC. Other survivors include a brother, Robert H. Cooke (Ellen) of Tama and a sister, Melva C. Ford (Claude) of Rehoboth Beach, DE and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral service will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday, August 26th, 2009 at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Cocoa. Private Interment, Florida Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Cocoa, or IRCC Foundation. Florida Memorial Funeral Home, Rockledge, is entrusted with arrangements.