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CORTLAND - We called him ''Pops'' and ''Dad.'' Born Aug. 25, 1918, the Rev. William Paul Cooke lived a long, fruitful life in service to the Lord, said his devoted wife of 65 years, Virginia Ellen Case Cooke.

He passed from this life and into the next at 2:35 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009, just three days shy of his 91st birthday.

He died at his home, surrounded by his wife, Virginia; two sons, John Gerstner Cooke of Little Rock, Ark., and Peter Milton Cooke and Peter's wife, Annette Mambuca, of Chicago. John's wife, Sara Cooke, was unable to be with us. Bill and Virginia's third son, James Paul Cooke, died Oct. 18, 2004. Bill's only sibling, Mary Rosetta Cooke, died in 2006 at the age of 90.

Born to Mary Bosserman Cooke and William Greenwood Cooke in Columbus, Bill was only 10 weeks old when his father died in the 1918 flu epidemic. He was raised first by his mother and ultimately his grandmother, Susan Bubb Bosserman, in Columbus, where he sold newspapers as a child.

His desire to devote his life to Christian service was first motivated by a Sunday School teacher. Despite the advice of professionals that Bill not pursue higher education because he had poor vision, after graduating South High School, he nonetheless enrolled at The Ohio State University, then transferred to Columbia International University, where he met and courted Virginia.

Bill was awarded his bachelor's degree in history from Texas Christian University.

During his college days, Bill worked as a radio announcer. At Columbia, he hosted a daily devotional program entitled ''Morning Devotions.''

Bill and Virginia married Nov. 28, 1944 in Harrisburg, Pa.

Sure of his vocation, he pursued a Master of Divinity degree at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and was ordained as a Presbyterian minister. A member of the Presbytery, he was honored by the Presbytery for his 60 years of service in the ministry.

Throughout his long life, Pops never failed to put the needs, cares and concerns of others before his own.

His first pastorate was at Adena and Harrisville, Ohio. While there, he preached at a Presbyterian Mission in nearby Piney Fork. In 1948, he helped organize the Presbyterian Church in Piney Fork.

Bill went on to serve as a minister at several churches in Pennsylvania and Ohio, including First United Presbyterian Church in Akron, where he was vice president of the Ministerial Association. During that time, he was also instrumental in bringing the Rev. Billy Graham to the Akron Rubber Bowl.

He and Virginia moved their family to rural Wayland, Ohio, in 1959. For the next 26 years, Bill served as pastor of Wayland Community Church, where he was pastor emeritus.

After his retirement, he served another four years at South Side Presbyterian in Niles and as a supply pastor in the Northeast Ohio area.

In addition to his ministerial work, Bill earned his teaching credential at the University of Akron and subsequently taught middle school for six years. Although he had never played basketball, he volunteered to serve as coach of the eighth-grade basketball team at Palmyra, who were undefeated under his tutelage.

Extremely civic- and community-minded, Bill served on the Portage County Library Board for 20 years, including several terms as president. He was an active participant on the Southeast Local School District Board of Education. His constant prayer was, ''Lord ... keep me, guide me, use me for Jesus' sake. Amen.''

The education of children was extremely important to Bill, so important, in fact, that many times he carried the bank note for a set of World Book Encyclopedias for families in need.

Bill was also a passionate activist for Read Aloud, a book that advocated that parents read aloud to their children at least 15 minutes a day. Bill purchased countless copies of that book and gave them away to every new parent who crossed his path.

And he was instrumental in convincing the local public television station to regularly air a public service announcement that asked, ''It's 8 o'clock. Have you read to your child today?''

Both he and Virginia were Fulbright Fellows in India. They continued to travel throughout the world as retirees, going to Cuba, the Far East, Russia and Europe. They also participated in numerous trips in Central America and as volunteers in the Cuban church.

Two books were extremely important to Bill. The Bible was without question the guiding tome of his life. He also revered the inspirational author Charles Baille, who wrote ''A Diary of Private Prayer,'' from which he and Virginia read morning and evening. Even during Bill's last weeks, when he could no longer read or pray aloud himself, devotions from Baille's remained an important part of the Cookes' daily life.

While words are wholly inadequate to express our gratitude, the Cooke family wants to thank Bill's remarkable caregivers - Irene Lamosek, Kerstie Frantz, Sharon Jones and Lori Miracle - without whom the quality of Pops' last years of life would not have been as rich. Thanks also to Chaplain Duane Jesse for his loving care and spiritual support to the Cooke family.

Material contributions can be made to Wayland Community Church, 6355 Wayland Road, Wayland, Ohio 44285; Celtic Hospice, 3530 Belmont Ave., Youngstown, Ohio 44505; or the donor's special charity.

Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Sept. 26 at the Calvary Presbyterian Church, 119 Laird N.E. (at Market Street), Warren, Ohio 44483. The Rev David Black and the Rev. Duane Jesse will officiate.

Family and friends may visit www.holetonyuhasz.com to send condolences.

Arrangements were by the Holeton-Yuhasz Funeral Home, 126 West Park Ave., Niles, Ohio 44446.

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