Ronald D. Cook, 86, of Bloomingdale passed May 6, 2022, at Our Hospice of South Central Indiana in Columbus.
He was born Nov. 8, 1935, to Clarence and Opal (Coleman) Cook. On Sept. 1, 1957, Ron married Barbara J. Davies of Bloomingdale. She preceded him in death April 1, 2012.
Ron was a 1953 graduate of Bloomingdale High School. He began his career with Garrard Excavation at the young age of 16. In 1959 he was hired as the general manager for the Bloomingdale Home Telephone Company and he managed that business for 40 years before he retired.
Ron was a Mason at his local Masonic lodge, a past Exalted Ruler of the Elks, a Republican precinct committee chairman, served on the sheriffs merit board, Bloomingdale Town Board and was a volunteer firefighter for several years. He was also a member of the antique car club where he enjoyed traveling around the state in his antique cars.
He enjoyed bowling and was an avid golfer (had three holes in one). He spent 27 years in the month of May working at the Indy 500 race track as a safety patrol guard. Ron’s biggest love was watching his grandchildren participate in sports and he and his wife would travel all over the US to watch their sporting events.
Ron loved woodworking and designing and building Christmas displays and some of his creations are displayed in his yard every Christmas. If you ever traveled through Bloomingdale during Christmas you could see some of his displays such as the mini merry-go-round, Ferris wheel and teeter totter in his yard. He also built a scale model of the Bloomingdale School Gymnasium that he loved to show people.
Ron had always had a dream of walking to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, from Bloomingdale. In 1993 he was able to complete the dream when he and a friend (Doc Russell), made the trip from Bloomingdale to Gatlinburg. They traveled in September and walked the 500 miles in 21 days. Many stories, memories and fun was had with his friend.
Ron is survived by three children, Ronja (Chuck) Branson, Bret (Shari) Cook of Bloomingdale and Denise (Steve) Larson of Columbus, Indiana; and seven grandchildren, Blair (Kevin) Mathis, Brigett (Justin) Renfrow, Brock (Stephanie) Branson, Austin (Courtney) Cook, Courtney (Dylan) Michel, Garrett Larson (fiance Lisa) and Trent Larson; two step-grandchildren, Allyson Collins and Kaitlyn Davis; and six great-grandchildren, Logan and Leah Mathis, Paige and Paisley Renfrow and Bryce and Chloe Branson.
Services will be held at Gooch Funeral Home in Rockville. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, May 11, with the funeral services at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 12. Burial will follow at Bloomingdale Friends Cemetery.
Those who wish may make a donation to the following organizations in honor of his memory. Bloomingdale Fire Department, P.O. Box 96, Bloomingdale, IN 47832 or Alzheimer’s Association, 50 E. 91st St., Suite 100, Indianapolis, IN 46240.
Online condolences may be shared at www.goochfuneralhome.com.
