July 19, 1945 – July 2, 2026
Charles “Ted” Cooke, of Leland, NC, and Topsfield, MA, passed peacefully on Tuesday, July 2, 2026, at the age of 80.
Charles was born on July 19, 1945, to Thomas Odell “Bully” Cook and Sattie Mae “Sat” Thomas Cook in Mount Pleasant, TX. He grew up on a 94-acre farm with two ponds and seven siblings: Thomas Jr., Dorothy, Earle Gene, Fredrick, Wallace, Marvin (who passed in childhood), and Roy (who also passed in childhood). During his youth, Charles learned to farm, butcher, and barter cattle and produce while developing woodworking and carpentry skills that would serve him throughout his education and career. He graduated from Center Point School in Center Point, TX, in 1959 and from Douglas High School in Pittsburg, TX, in 1963.
After graduating from high school, Charles moved to Roxbury, MA, where he lived with his Aunt Christine “Chris” (Thomas) Hardmon and Uncle Jay Hardmon. He worked at Drake’s Cakes Bakery in Roxbury, packing cakes, and later at the Massachusetts State Biological Laboratory in Jamaica Plain, caring for laboratory animals used in pharmaceutical research. He also worked at Beth Israel Hospital as a sous chef and in the maintenance department. During this time, he became close with his Aunt Charlesetta (Thomas) Doddy and Uncle Calvin Doddy, helping maintain their 12-unit apartment building in Roxbury and learning valuable maintenance and repair skills.
When the Vietnam War began, Charles voluntarily enlisted in the United States Air Force on February 23, 1966. After scoring highest in mechanics and electronics, he completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX, followed by specialized training at Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois as an Aircraft Maintenance Specialist.
Charles served 11 months and 22 days at Phan Rang Air Base in Vietnam, witnessing the construction of the base from its earliest days. He often recalled the primitive conditions, including sleeping in tents without floors, bathing outdoors, carrying a mess kit, and drinking warm Coca-Cola. Early in his deployment, he was temporarily assigned to Clark Air Base in Pampanga, Philippines, where he helped build and test J57 and J79 aircraft engines before returning to Phan Rang. By the time his deployment ended, the base had developed into a fully operational installation with paved roads, running water, electricity, and permanent facilities. Following Vietnam, he served at Westover Air Force Base in Chicopee, MA, and completed another temporary assignment at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam before receiving an honorable discharge on December 8, 1969, after three years, 11 months, and 22 days of service as a three-striped sergeant.
In 1970, Charles began a 23-year career at General Electric as a jet engineer. He was later promoted to Development Engineering Analyst, where he wrote technical instructions for constructing and testing commercial and military jet engines. During his time at GE, he met Deborah Evelyn Brown. They were married on January 4, 1975, and lived in Rowley and Newburyport before settling in Topsfield in 1987. Their daughter, Michelle, was born 10 years after their marriage.
In 1993, Charles and Deborah embarked on a new chapter by entering the franchise business. They purchased their first Mobil gas station, “The Year 2000 Solutions,” in Brighton, MA, in 1994, followed by “Charles’ Mobil on the Run” in Reading, MA, in 1999. Working side by side for a decade, Deborah managed the finances, accounting, and inventory, while Charles oversaw operations and maintenance. Their businesses received numerous awards, including Boston’s Best for customer service and car repairs from The Improper Bostonian in 1998, Outstanding Retail Excellence in 2001, and recognition as a Local Winner in ExxonMobil’s Leaders in Retail Excellence Program in 2002, placing them among the nation’s top Mobil “On the Run” franchises for quality and customer service.
After selling their Reading business in 2004, Charles and Deborah retired to Leland, NC, near Wilmington. Retirement proved to be another opportunity to work together, with Charles serving as part-time maintenance manager for a nearby storage company and Deborah later joining as accounting manager. After fully retiring, they became active members of the Wilmington Cape Fear Rose Society, earning numerous awards for their beautiful rose gardens. Friends often remarked they could smell the roses from the street, a testament to the care and dedication Charles poured into them. During nearly 22 years in Leland, they built a wonderful life filled with lasting friendships.
Charles was predeceased by his parents, all seven siblings, and many beloved aunts, uncles, cousins, and extended family members in Texas, California, and Massachusetts.
He is survived by his wife, Deborah Evelyn Brown Cooke; daughter, Dr. Michelle Pearl Cooke (Devin) of Mount Pleasant, SC; brother-in-law, Rev. Dr. Edmund Carleton Brown Jr. (Pastor Joanna) of Jacksonville, NC; nieces, Dawn Brown Evans (Sgt. First Class Quintin) of Hope Mills, NC, Sandra Calvin of Richmond, CA, Teresa Haynes-Cook (Kevin) of Pittsburg, TX, and Rachelle Cook-Everett of Pittsburg, TX; nephews, Tommy Cook Jr. of Richmond, CA, and Edmund Carleton Brown III of Kalamazoo, MI; bonus daughter, Elizabeth “Liz” Hudson Parker (John) of Charleston, SC; and grandnephews and grandnieces, Quintin Evans Jr. (Amber) of Denver, CO, and Joel, Isaac, and Aimee Evans, all of Hope Mills, NC.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend visiting hours from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Monday, July 20, 2026, at Solimine Funeral Home, 67 Ocean St. (Route 1A), Lynn. A funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Pine Grove Cemetery, 145 Boston St., Lynn. Family and friends are also invited to a gathering following the burial at Spinelli’s Function Facility, 10 Newbury St., Peabody, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Ted’s memory may be made to:
The Wilmington Cape Fear Rose Society (WCFRS)
c/o Debbie Caulder
6206 Mallard Drive
Wilmington, NC 28403
https://www.wcfrs.org/donate.html
The Community Brotherhood of Lynn
150 Coburn Street
Lynn, MA 01902
339-440-4420
mcc9329@gmail.com
Bethel AME Church
72 Silsbee Street
Lynn, MA 01901
781-581-5760
bethellynn@gmail.com
https://www.solimine.com/obituaries/Charles-Ted-Cooke?obId=48973463
