The Rev. Dr. Raymond Jervis Cooke died peacefully Friday, June 16, 2017, with his two daughters by his side.  He had been living in the Health Center at the Manor House in Seaford for about a month, after 24 years of residence there.  He would have been 97 in July.

Born in Wilmington, DE on July 28, 1920 to Raymond Ward Cooke and Ethel Jervis Cooke, he was raised in Baltimore, and graduated from Baltimore City College in 1937.  He graduated cum laude from Washington College in Chestertown, MD in 1941, and received his Master of Divinity from Drew University School and Theology in 1944.  In 1977, (then) Western Maryland College in Westminster, MD granted him an honorary Doctor of Sacred Theology.

He began preaching while in college in 1939, became a member of the Peninsula Conference (now Peninsula-Delaware United Methodist) in 1941, and was ordained an Elder in 1943.  At the most recent Annual Conference last month, he was recognized for 76 years of service.

On October 11, 1944, he married the former Mary Frances Roe of Cordova, MD, who received permission from the Delaware School of Nursing to marry him, as they had been going together since he had served her church in Cordova, while he was on a brief leave from the US Navy, prior to beginning his service in WW11.  They were happily married until her death in 2009.

Dr. Cooke eventually served all five branches of the US Military as a chaplain, beginning with training at the Marine Base in Fort LeJeune, then in southern California with the Navy (where his wife joined him, until he sailed for the Philippines.)  As a chaplain, he continued in the Reserves after the war, eventually serving the Coast Guard and the Army, before retiring as a Lt. Col. In the US Air Force after 28 years of service.

Conference appointments included Trappe, MD, Epworth in Centreville, St John’s in Seaford, Trinity in Salisbury, Superintendent of the Wilmington District, Newark, DE, and Director of the Conference Council on Ministries in Dover.

In 1977, he was elected President of Wesley College in Dover, DE, which moved from a junior college to an accredited four-year college, during his tenure.  He also served as the first chaplain for both the Dover Police and Fire Departments.

He served on many boards and agencies, both within the church and in the communities in which he lived.  After official retirement, he served a number of churches within driving distance from their homes, first in Dover, and then at the Manor House in Seaford.

Dr. Cooke’s wife of 64 years, Mary Frances Cooke passed away in 2009.  He  is survived by children Joanne Cooke (Don Gowins) of Galestown, MD, the Rev. Dr. Bruce Cooke (Gail) of Easton, MD, Linda Chantler of Milton, DE, Gary Cooke (Elena) of Milton, DE, and Steve Cooke (Shannon Lang) of Harrisonburg, VA, eighteen grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, and dozens of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A Memorial Service will be held at noon on Friday, June 23, at St. John’s UM Church in Seaford, DE.

In lieu of flowers, it is suggested that gifts be made to the Benevolence Fund, the Employee Appreciation Fund, or to ACTS Legacy Foundation at the Manor House, 1001 Middleford Rd, Seaford, DE 19973.

 Service Information