Former Virginia House Speaker Cooke dies

MATHEWS

Former Virginia House of Delegates Speaker John Warren Cooke died Saturday at his home. He was 94.

Cooke served in the House of Delegates from 1942 to 1980. He was the speaker from 1968 until he left office. During his time in office, he represented Essex, Gloucester, King and Queen, King William, Mathews, Middlesex, Charles City and New Kent counties.

The last son of a Confederate veteran to sit in the General Assembly, Cooke was born to the Rev. Giles Buckner Cooke and Katharine Grosh Cooke. He was raised in Mathews and graduated from Lee-Jackson High School in 1932. He then attended Virginia Military Institute from 1932 to 1933. He was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree from the College of William and Mary in 1980, a Christopher Newport College medallion in 1986 and an honorary doctor of laws degree from Christopher Newport University in 1992.

Cooke was elected to the board of Tidewater Newspapers Inc. in 1946. He became president and publisher in 1954, resigning from the presidency in March.

He is survived by his wife, Anne Rawn Cooke; daughter, Elsa Cooke Verbyla; and son, Giles Buckner Cooke.

A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Ware Episcopal Church in Gloucester.

Cooke’s family will receive friends at home and has suggested that expressions of sympathy be made in the form of contributions to charities.

Lauren King, (757) 446-2309, lauren.king@pilotonline.com