CHARLES WELLINGTON COOK

Charles Wellington Cook, 88, husband of Miriam G. Dix Cook, died Friday, Nov. 8, 2024, at Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital.

Born Sept. 29, 1936, in Prosperity, he was a son of the late William Ewell Cook and Novice Lee Lominack Cook Dominick. Mr. Cook was a member of Crosspoint Baptist Church. He retired from the U.S. Air Force after 20 years of service and was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He joined the Air Force on Feb. 14, 1956. He finished first in his Crew Chief Technical Schooling, allowing him to select his base of choice. He chose Shaw AFB, and while stationed there he met and married the love of his life, Miriam, whom he affectionately referred to as “Tiger.” He proudly served his country with stateside assignments in North Carolina and South Carolina and abroad in England, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand. Following his service in the Air Force, he went to work with the medical device manufacturing company Becton Dickinson (BD). He piloted BD’s Manufacturing Technicians Program, and due to its success, it is now a worldwide program. Due to illness, he retired from BD after 20 years of service. He spent countless hours loving on his children and grandchildren. He and Tiger spent a lot of time together talking, putting puzzles together and watching westerns. Mr. Cook was a loving and kind man and will be missed and remembered by the lives he touched.

Survivors in addition to his loving wife of nearly 66 years include two daughters, Sandra “Sandy” Vining (Mark) and Gina Singleton (Sid); five grandchildren, Michael Vining (Lauri), Emilie Haas (Jeff), Casey McCutchen (Charles), Thomas Singleton (Kandace) and Mallory Smith (Christopher); nine great-grandchildren, Sydney, Marli, Barrett, Cash, Fletcher, Eliza, Arabella, Thorin and Charlie; four sisters-in law, Betty Cook, Elise Dix, Onita Meldrum (Dan) and Laurice Owens; three brothers-in-law, Enoch Dix (Kathleen), William I. Dix Jr. (Jennifer) and Weston Dix; and a number of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by five brothers, William “Bill” Cook (Jo), Robert “Bob” Cook (Edith), Cyril Cook, Thomas Cook and Jack B. Cook; three brothers-in-law, Cecil Dix, Norman Owens and Larry Gene Dix (Marie); and three sisters-in-law, LaFrance Brown, Sylvia Jo Shelley (Alton) and Gloria Dix.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home Chapel officiated by the Rev. Tim Simpson. Burial with full military honors will be in Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 11, 2024, at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and other times at the home.

Memorials may be sent to Crosspoint Baptist Church, 2755 Carter Rd., Sumter, SC 29150.

Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.