John W. Cookson

John W. Cookson, 96, of New Philadelphia, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, December 20, 2014 in Community Hospice House at New Philadelphia.

A son of the late Ben and Cora (McKnight) Cookson, John was born September 8, 1918 at Goshen, Ohio.

John was a veteran of the United States Army Air Corp and served during World War II. During his service he was stationed in England with the 385th Bomber Group and participated in 33 missions as a B17 Ball Turret Gunner.

He was known as a hard worker and during his teenage years John worked as a miner for the Midvale Mine Company. John was the founder and served as the owner and operator of the John W. Cookson Company. In his spare time, John enjoyed restoring buildings and during his later years participating in the events of the Eight Air Force Historical Society and researching his former crew members.

John was a life-long member of the First Church of the Nazarene at New Philadelphia where he once served as the Sunday School Superintendent and also assisted with the construction of their current building. He also attended the First Presbyterian Church at Uhrichsville.

He is survived by three daughters, Brenda (Bob) Henning of New Philadelphia, Valerie (Skip) Cookson Gustin of Largo, Florida and Annette (Tom Hirning) Cookson of New Philadelphia; three sons, John (Judy) Cookson of Newport Beach, California, Michael (Jennifer) Cookson of New Philadelphia and Mark (Brenda) Cookson of Canton; 12 grandchildren; 26 great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.

John was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Nellie Edna (Regotter) Cookson; his second wife, Wanda Bernice (Crawford) Cookson; an infant daughter, Marla Kay; two sisters, Ruth Frantz and Marjorie Johnson; four brothers, Don, Jim, Ben and Fred Cookson; two great granddaughters, Reese and Rachel Weston and a great-great granddaughter, Brooklyn Sattoria Thomas.

Visitation will be on Monday, December 22, 2014 from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia. A funeral service celebrating John’s life will be held on Tuesday, December 23, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. in the funeral home with Rev. Mark Unrue officiating. Burial will follow in Sharon Moravian Church Cemetery at Tuscarawas. Following the committal service a luncheon will be held in the Geib Family Center at New Philadelphia.

The family suggest in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made in John’s memory to Community Hospice of Tuscarawas County, 716 Commercial Avenue SW, New Philadelphia, OH 44663