Cover photo for Dr. William Cook's Obituary
Dr. William Cook Profile Photo
1912 Dr. 2006

Dr. William Cook

May 24, 1912 — May 14, 2006

Dr. William Cook, 93, a resident of Mentelle Drive in Franklin, passed away Sunday, May 14, 2006 at Williamson Medical Center in Franklin.

Funeral services for Dr. Cook will be conducted Thursday, May 18, 2006 at 3:30 pm in the chapel of Williams Funeral Home in Columbia with Pastor Pete Ave-Lallemant officiating. Burial will be in the Santa Fe Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Wednesday from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the funeral home.

Born in Liberty, TN, he was the son of the late Rev. Marvin Watson and Eunice Dale Cook and husband of the late Jacqueline Peatross Sharpe Cook. He was a member of St. Peter?s Episcopal Church in Columbia.

As the son of a Methodist preacher, Bill's younger life was punctuated by moves throughout the Middle Tennessee area, including his birth in Liberty and parsonage homes in Mt. Pleasant, Pulaski, Nashville, and Franklin, TN. He graduated from Hume Fogg High School in Nashville, and received a B.S. and M.D. from Vanderbilt University. After serving in residencies at Charity Hospital in New Orleans and St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville, he entered into private practice in Columbia, TN. This private practice was cut short by World War II when he was called to active duty in the 101 st Airborne division being stationed overseas, first in the Ascension Islands, England and then in frontline surgical hospitals in the European Theater.

He arrived in Holland by piloting a glider across the English Channel. The most dramatic part of his service began after being captured by the Germans in the activities leading up to the Battle of the Bulge. The details of this story are recounted in the books World War II: Maury County Remembers and in the chapter titled after one of his comrades "Van Gorder" in the book The Greatest Generation by Tom Brokaw.

Dr. Cook then returned to private practice in Columbia and established a relationship with the people of Maury County. He served on the staff of the old King's Daughters Hospital in Columbia and was a member of the first staff of Maury County Hospital. After retirement, he was greeted regularly by those whom he had helped. He enjoyed being remembered for the deliveries, home visits, and healing he brought to the area's families.

Seeing the need for public health services in Maury County, Dr. Cook returned to school, this time to Harvard University where he received a Master's Degree in Public Health. He became Medical Director of the Maury County Public Health Office and served in the Tennessee Department of Public Health in several capacities retiring as the Medical Director of the 14-county Upper Cumberland Region. Dr. Cook continued to work as a Physician after this retirement with the Metro-Davidson Public Health Department, and the finally back in private practice in Centerville, TN.

During this time he met and married Jacqueline Sharpe who was widowed with four young boys. He served as a mentor and father figure to these boys and his memory will be cherished by them. After finishing with the practice of Medicine, Dr. Cook developed another career - selling water from his family farm to Crystal Springs Water Company from 1988 to 2000. His final years and days were lived being loved and cared for by his step-sons and grandchildren.

Dr. Cook is survived by two sisters Lera Sanders of Richmond, VA, and Rachel Akers of Buffalo, MO, and four Step-sons Bobby Sharpe of Williams port, Tom Sharpe of Mt. Pleasant, Doy Juliet Sharpe of Lexington Park, MD, and Seth Susan Sharpe of Franklin, TN and four grandchildren Sam, Willa, Rachel, and Henry Sharpe. He will also be missed by his devoted caregiver Kim Jones of Spring Hill, TN. He was preceded in death by a brother, Watson and infant sister Mary.

Pallbearers will be friends of the family.

Memorials may be made to the Maury County Republican Party, 803 S. Main St., Columbia, TN 38401
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Dr. William Cook, please visit our flower store.

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