Kenneth William Cook, LT. COL USAF (RET.) was born in Ferney, South Dakota March 9, 1920. He is grieved by his beloved wife of 63 years, Doria Deighton Jones Cook, and his children Doria Cennethe Cook-Nelson, Sandria Markae MacDonald Cook, Mark Dustin MacDonald Cook, his sister, Geraldine Blanchard of Spokane, Washington, his nieces Georgia Toppe, Candace Enquist, and Tamera Greene, and his sister-in-law e.m.Babs jones. Kenneth was preceded in death by his sister Lorrette Nogal. Early on while attending University of Southern California he met Doria Deighton Jones with whom he began a rare and remarkable life-long relationship. But WWII opportunities provided employment in Eritrea, Africa at a neutral air base to repair damaged aircraft for immediate return into combat. Later he was assigned to Bangalore, India as head of Aircraft Instrument Division for Hindustan Aircraft. In 1945 when drafted into the Air Force he returned to America marry his fiancee Doria in 1946. In 1953 he received his undergraduate degree from the U.S. Air Force of Technology in engineering (electrical), Wright Patterson. He received his professional engineering/surveying license from Ohio State, Columbus in 1953 and from the state of New Mexico in 1959. From 1961-67 was acting head of the US Air Force Scientific and Technical Liaison Division in Inglewood, California. He traveled extensively instructing EEEI engineers as to the significance Air Force special weapons and satellite communications and received various awards for his leadership. Simultaneous with his traveling Air Force career, Ken and fellow AFIT graduate Floyd Amundson created Albuquerques AMCO, the first official company in the 50s to install and repair television in motels throughout New Mexico and parts of Arizona. As a member of the York and Scottish Rite Masons, he and his close Shriner friends created the Ballud Abyad Shriners Aeronautic Patrol, flying their iconic Fez balloon in international balloon fiestas all over the southwest. He was president of Albuquerque Senior Golf Assoc. and the New Mexico Senior Golf Assoc. He earned prestigious Low-Net first and second flight championship 1981 and 82. Hardworking, tenacious, generous, and loving, he taught his children to accept people for as they are, have confidence accepting personal challenges, pursue dreams, and to be honest trust-worthy human beings. Interested in solar, wind, and other alternative energy sources he was ever positive and hopeful no matter what the situation. A realist, yet he always loved a good joke. Self-deprecating, seldom speaking of his many talents. As he was greatly loved and appreciated, so he will be missed. Services will be held Thursday, November 5, 2009, 10:00 a.m., at Heights Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 8600 Academy Rd. NE, 87111, 505-821-1993.
