Ray B. Cook, Jr.

Ray B. Cook Jr., 76 of Stafford passed away on Tuesday, April 27 at his home.

Ray Cook was born on March 19, 1945, in Alexandria VA. After high school, Ray joined the Marine Corps and served in Vietnam. He married his wife Diana in 1967. He continued to dedicate his life to his country by working for the FBI and serving in the Army National Guard. He retired from the FBI after 25 years then continued to support the FBI as a contractor for sixteen years. He retired from the Army National Guard as a Chief Warrant Officer (CW4) shortly after serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Ray was a huge proponent of continuing education. He worked hard as a husband and father to earn his highest degrees, a Master of Art in Liberal Studies and a Master of Science in Information and Telecommunication Systems Management. As he worked on his degrees he always aided others in their educational pursuits as a mentor or as a professor at NOVA, Park, and Germanna Community Colleges.

Ray was a very active member of his church parish, St. William of York. He was a council member, a religious educator, an usher, a member of the Knights of Columbus, a Eucharistic minister, and alongside his wife he led the youth group for numerous years. 

Ray was well known to his grandchildren and many around him as the Pappy-Razi. He loved taking pictures and capturing moments of his family and friends on vacations, weekend dinners, the grandkid’s sports games, concerts, and holiday get-togethers. Ray loved his family fiercely and always placed an emphasis on how to live your life according to his motto, the three F’s- He believed you should dedicate yourself to these things in this order, Faith, Family, and Friends.

He is survived by his wife, Diana Jean Cook; children Jackie Michalick (Anthony) of Spotsylvania, VA, Ray Cook III (Amy) of Spanish Fort, Alabama, Mary Congdon (Jason) of Spotsylvania, VA; daughter-in-law April Cook of Spotsylvania, VA; grandchildren Danielle Beal (Lawrence), Andrew Michalick, Madeline Bettendorf (Issac), Gabrielle Michalick, Jackson Cook, Jacob Michalick, Emma Cook, Declan Congdon, Sebastian Congdon, Lily Cook, Mary Cook, Killian Congdon, Noah Cook, Casey Cook, and Charles Cook; great-grandchildren Oliver, Layla, and Eleanor Beal; brother John Cook (Helena Russell) of Stafford; and sister Edna Cook of Brandon, Florida. He is preceded in death by his parents, Dorothy Mae Cook and Ray B Cook Sr.; brothers Gary Cook and Eppa Cook; sisters Shelby Sigmon and Lorraine Peters; and son, Michael J. Cook.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday, May 3 at Covenant Funeral Service, Stafford. The Rosary will be prayed at 6:30 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 4 at St. William of York Catholic Church. A private interment will follow in Quantico National Cemetery.

Due to his close ties with his military family donations can be made to the Disabled American Veterans.