Elmer Eugene ‘Gene’ Cook

Elmer Eugene “Gene” Cook was born Feb. 10, 1934 to Homer and Lucille Cook in their Putnam County home.

Gene lived the majority of his life in Putnam and Hendricks counties, graduating from Reelsville High School, until his recent move to Texas in the last few years.

Gene was a helpful, kind-hearted and hard-working man. He retired after many years at Duke Energy and many times had second jobs driving trucks for various companies.

In retirement, he was on the City of Danville Planning Commission.

Gene was a man of family and faith. He was a loving, caring “Dad” to his five children, “Pops,” “Papaw” and “BaBa” to his grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

He served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Greencastle. Many remember his deep bass voice as he sang in the church’s Gospel Quartet.

He is survived by his five children, Debbie Branson, Donna Robertson (husband Tom), Dennis Cook, Darla Trull (husband Mike) and Darrin Cook; four sisters, Edna Mae Smiley, Doris Smiley, Edith Tarter and Mary Ellen Smith; 15 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his father, Homer Cook; mother Lucille Cook; brothers, Ernie and Edwin; and grandson Keith Trull.

A viewing and visitation time, at Hopkins-Rector Funeral Home, Greencastle, is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 4 from 4-7 p.m.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, Feb. 5 at 10 a.m. at the funeral home with a graveside service to follow at Forest Hill Cemetery.

Memories may be shared with the family at www.Hopkins-Rector.com.