William "Bill" Cook

William "Bill" Cook of Greenville, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2018, in Santa Barbara, California. He was born Dec. 1, 1934, in Greenville, the son of Arthur M. and Anne H. Cook. Bill was a graduate of Greenville High School in 1953, and a graduate of Michigan State University in 1957. He was known to most as a standout football and track athlete, which included being named all-conference in both sports, and becoming a state champion high hurdler. Because of his accomplishments, he was inducted in the Greenville High School Hall of Fame Class of 2012. When he eventually moved back to Greenville, Bill also put his focus back into the schools he grew up in. He volunteered for 30 years as a track meet official, and was part of the committee that helped make building the first track at Greenville High School a reality, along with Harold Steele and Leo Marshall. In 2006, Bill and Harriette were among the first donors to support the United Memorial Hospital expansion project, which made a new surgery and patient care center possible. In recognition of their early donation, in addition to those made by Byron and Dee Cook and Jeff and Caroline Cook, their name is honored on the Cook Family Inpatient Center and Cook Family Surgery Center at what is today called Spectrum Health United Hospital. In 2014, Bill and Harriette made the lead gift to make the United Hospital OB Department expansion and renovation possible. With the vision of Bill and his brother, Byron, they were responsible for the development on the western side of Greenville in the 1980s with Hathaway Properties. Bill married the love of his life, Harriette Clark, on Feb. 1, 1958. He was co-owner of Cook Investments and Southwestern Oil Company. He had many accomplishments over his lifetime — he was chairman of Special Gifts for the Greenville Public Library construction in the 1970s, chairman of the Baldwin Lake Board, on the Board of Directors of Baldwin Lake Association, board member of Michigan Association of Petroleum Landmen, director of Michigan Oil and Gas Association, past director of First State Bank of Greenville, chairman of the education committee — Montcalm Tomorrow, past member of the Greenville Planning Commission, past member of the Greenville Zoning Board of Appeals, past chairman of Eureka Township Zoning Board of Appeals, past chairman of the Greenville Downtown Development Authority, past member of the Greenville Economic Development Authority, director of the Montcalm Community College Foundation, director of the Montcalm Area Reading Council and past member of the Coalition of Greater Greenville - Regional Planning. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Harriette, of Greenville; two sons, Christopher Cook and Jeffers Healy and Bradley Cook and Tim McNeal, all of Los Angeles; and daughter, Jennifer and Jason Parkman of Austin, Texas; grandchildren, William and Jamie Cook-Healy of Los Angeles, and Henry and Matilda Parkman of Austin, Texas; brother, Byron and Dee Cook of Greenville; sister, Anne Letherer of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and his brother-in-law, Richard and Susanne Clark of New City, New York. He was preceded in death by his parents and in-laws. A celebration of his life will be 11 a.m. on Jan. 20 at the Greenville First Congregational Church. Memorial contributions can be made in Bill's name to the Greenville Area Community Foundation or the Montcalm Community College Foundation. Arrangements are by Marshall Funeral Home, Greenville, with complete obituary online at www.marshallfuneralhomeinc.com where you can leave a message of condolence for the family.