Robert J. "Jack" Cook, 86, of Big Spring, died on Wednesday, September 21, 2005, at his residence. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM Friday, September 23, 2005, at the Nalley-Pickle & Welch Rosewood Chapel with Rick Cunningham, minister of 14th & Main Church of Christ, officiating. Interment will follow at Trinity Memorial Park.The family will receive friends from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM Thursday at the funeral home.He was born on April 23, 1919, in Big Spring, Texas and married Jean Ross Jackson on April 26, 1942 in Dallas.Jack was a lifetime resident of Big Spring. He graduated from Big Spring High School in 1936 and attended Texas A&M majoring in economics. He learned to fly under the Civilian Pilot Training Program and received his private, commercial and flight instructor rating in October 1940. Jack instructed flying cadets in the United States Army Air Corps as a civilian instructor. He entered the Army Air Corps as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1943, in the ferrying division and ferried new airplanes from the factory to various bases including overseas. He later took 4 engine airline pilot training at Homestead Air Force Base and went overseas to Tezgaon, India and flew C-54's over the Himilayan Mountains from India to China, supplying the 19th Air Force with bombs, ammunition and gasoline.In 1946, he returned to civilian life and managed the Big Spring Municipal Airport until 1950 when Webb Air Force Base was opened. At that time he went into the oil business as a land man, buying oil and gas leases with his father, R.L. Cook, and has had an independent land company since that time.He was part owner of Big Spring Flying Service and was active in flying until 1989. He was also in partnership in the real estate firm of Cook & Talbot. For the last several years he has been associated with A. K. Guthrie of Guthrie Oil & Gas.He was a member of 14th & Main Church of Christ, was past president of the West Texas Chapter of the Air Force Association, past president of the Board of Realtors, past president of the Heritage Museum and headed the Aviation Committee of the Chamber of Commerce for several years.Jack was the epitome of integrity. It was only natural that he was a moral man. He was modest and made no pretentions whatever of goodness, yet he stood squarely on the side of righteousness. A gentlemen of his stature seldom comes along, but we can thank God for them.Survivors include his wife, Jean Jackson Cook of Big Spring; two daughters, Suzanne Mahon and husband, Alex of Scottsdale, Arizona and Jacquelyn Stacey of Irving; one granddaughter, Kelley Smith and husband, Russell of Austin; two grandsons, Ross Conner and wife, Stacy of Tyler and Banning Sweatland and wife, Cassondra of Keller and two great grandsons, Jack Conner of Tyler and Conner Smith of Austin. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert L. and Bessie Cook and two sisters, Juanita Baird and Mary Lee Purser.Pallbearers will be Ross Conner, Banning Sweatland, Russell Smith, Bob Battle, Ronnie Baird and Bob Purser. Honorary pallbearers will be Tom South, Ira B. Hartzog, John Little, Kimball Guthrie, Bill McClenden and Dr. B. Broadrick. The family suggests memorials be made to 14th & Main Church of Christ, 1401 Main, Big Spring, Texas 79720 or to Odyssey Hospice, 1003 E. FM 700, Big Spring, Texas 79720.Arrangements under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Big Spring. Online condolences can be made at: www.npwelch.com,
