John Winston Cook, a wonderful husband, father and friend, died peacefully on April 15, 2007. He was born in Madison, WI Oct 24, 1921 to Maynard Albert and Chorale Boyd Cook, and was raised in Winnetka, Ill. He graduated from New Trier High School in 1939, then from Dartmouth College in 1943. Following graduation, John attended flight school with the Royal Air Force. During World War II, he served in the 348th Fighter Group, 342nd Squadron, flying P47 (Thunderbolt) and P51 (Mustang) fighters, attaining the rank of First Lieutenant. He was stationed in the Pacific Theater, specifically the Dutch East Indies and the Philippines. The camaraderie, dangers and excitement of World War II were favorite topics of conversation for the rest of his life, and gained him the respect and admiration of many. Following his military service, John moved to San Antonio where he began his career in the life insurance and real estate businesses. He enjoyed staying in touch with friends in the military through the years, and assisted many of them in purchasing homes and insurance. Together with his wife Bette, John co-brokered Cook Company Realty before joining Kuper Realty more than 20 years ago. He was a kind and gentle man who took a genuine interest in everyone he met. His friends considered him a gentleman’s gentleman. In 1985, he was made an honorary member of the 82nd Medical Detachment Helicopter Ambulance Group (‘DUSTOFF’) for his longtime friendship and service to its members. He is survived by his wife, Bette Ruth Williams Cook, daughters Marjorie Cook Hutcheson and her husband Palmer, of Houston, and Nancy Winston Cook of San Antonio.
