LELAND — Charles Ted Cooke of Leland, NC and Topsfield, MA passed peacefully on Tuesday, July 2, 2026 at the age of 80 years old.
Charles was born on July 19, 1945 to Thomas Odell “Bully” Cook and Sattie Mae “Sat” Thomas Cook in Mount Pleasant, TX. Charles grew up on a 94-acre farm with 2 ponds and 7 siblings; Thomas Jr., Dorothy, Earle Gene, Fredrick, Wallace, Marvin (passed in childhood) and Roy (passed in childhood). During Charles’ childhood and adolescence he learned how to farm, butcher and barter for cattle and produce as well as hone his woodworking and carpentry skills. These abilities would serve him well in his formal education and multiple careers. He graduated from Center Point School in 1959 in Center Point, TX and graduated from Douglas High School in 1963 in Pittsburg, TX.
After graduating high school, Charles moved to Roxbury, MA to live with his Aunt Christine “Chris” (Thomas) and Uncle Jay Hardmon. He worked at Drakes Cakes Bakery in Roxbury, MA packing cakes and then at the Massachusetts State Biological Laboratory in Jamaica Plain, MA where he took care of mice, guinea pigs and horses that were being used in various ways for pharmaceuticals tested. He also worked a Beth Israel Hospital as a sous chef and in the maintenance department. He grew close to this Aunt Charlesetta (Thomas) and Uncle Calvin Doddy who owned an apartment building with 12 units in Roxbury, MA. In the evenings, he helped his Uncle Calvin repair the apartment units. Charles learned how to strip floors, repair toilets, paint and complete general repairs.
A few years later, the Vietnam War began and Charles voluntarily enlisted. He scored the highest in mechanics and electronics and was able to serve in the United State Air Force (USAF) beginning on February 23, 1966. He completed his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas and was chosen for a 12-week special training at Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois as an Air Force Aircraft Maintenance Specialist. Charles was then deployed to Phan Rang Air Base in Vietnam for 11 months and 22 days. When he arrived in Vietnam, there was no base and he watched it being built. He recalls sleeping in tents with no floor, had to bath and shave outside, had to carry a mess kit and drank “warm Coca-Cola”, which he did not enjoy. In the beginning of his time in Vietnam, he had his first Temporary Duty Assigned (TDY) at the Clark Air Base in Pampanga, Philippines. He and his fellow airmen remained there to build and test J57 and J79 engines while they continued to build the barracks and jet shop in Phan Rang. Charles then returned to Phan Rang for the rest of his time in Vietnam. By the time he left Phan Rang, barracks and testing sites were operational, they had running water and electricity, paved roads and all the amenities Americans were accustomed to. He returned state side to Westover Air Force base in Chicopee, MA and then went to Anderson Air Force Base in Guam for his second Temporary Duty Assigned (TDY). He was honorably discharged from Westover Air Force base in Chicopee, MA after 3 years 11 months and 22 days as a Three Striped Sargent on December 8, 1969.
After Vietnam, he worked at General Electric (GE) as a Jet Engineer starting in 1970 for 23 years. He was promoted to Development Engineering Analyst where he wrote the instructions to construct and test commercial and military jet engines. During his time at GE, he met his wife, Deborah Evelyn Brown and they were married January 4, 1975. They lived in Rowley, MA and Newburyport, MA for the early years of their marriage and their daughter, Michelle, was born 10 years later. They moved to Topsfield, MA in 1987 where Charles continued to work at GE.
In 1993, he had a career shift which caused he and Deborah to search for the next business opportunity. After much franchise research, they decided to purchase their first Mobil gas station franchise in 1994 called, “The Year 2000 Solutions” in Brighton, MA and their second Mobil gas station in 1999, called “Charles’ Mobil on the Run” in Reading, MA. They worked together side by side for 10 years where Deborah managed all the finances, accounting and inventory while Charles managed all business operations and maintenance. Through this partnership, they won multiple awards for their business acumen. Their Brighton gas station won Boston’s Best in 1998 from the Improper Bostonian Magazine for customer service and car repairs. Their Reading gas station was recognized for Outstanding Retail Excellence in 2001 and joined the “On the Run” Circle of Excellence. Then they were named a Local Winner in the 2002 Leaders in Retail Excellence Program by ExxonMobil, which meant they were top 10 in the nation for quality and customer service for a Mobil “On The Run” franchise 2 years in a row.
In 2004, they sold “Charles’ Mobil on the Run” and retired to Leland, NC, right outside Wilmington, NC. Although they were “retired”, they both still found ways to remain active. Charles became the part time maintenance manager for a storage unit company a mile away from their home and 4 years later, Deborah joined him and became the accounting manager. Once again they were working side by side running another business. Once they decided to retire “for good”, they joined the Wilmington Cape Fear Rose Society (WCFRS). During their time with WCFRS, they were active participants who could always be counted on to be “on the rose tour” and won many awards for their roses. Many said they could smell them from the street and it was clear Charles put his heart and soul into them. Throughout their almost 22 years in Leland, they created a wonderful home and life with multiple new friendships that would become lifelong bonds.
Charles was preceded in death by his parents, all seven siblings as well as plethora of aunts, uncles, cousins and extended family located in Texas, California and Massachusetts.
Charles is survived by his wife, Deborah Evelyn Brown Cooke and their daughter, Dr. Michelle Pearl Cooke (Devin) of Mount Pleasant, SC; brother-in-law, Rev. Dr. Edmund Carleton Brown Jr. (Pastor Joanna) of Jacksonville, NC; nieces, Dawn Brown Evans (Sgt. First Class Quintin) of Hope Mills, NC, Sandra Calvin of Richmond, CA, Teresa Haynes-Cook (Kevin) of Pittsburg TX, and Rachelle Cook-Everett of Pittsburg, TX; nephews, Tommy Cook Jr. of Richmond, CA and Edmund Carleton Brown III of Kalamazoo, MI; bonus daughter, Elizabeth “Liz” Hudson Parker (John) of Charleston, SC; grand nephews and nieces, Quintin Evans Jr. (Amber) of Denver, CO, Joel, Isaac and Aimee Evans all of Hope Mills, NC.
In lieu of flowers, please choose from the following organizations to donate:
The Wilmington Cape Fear Rose Society (WCFRS)
C/O Debbie Caulder
6206 Mallard Drive
Wilmington, NC 28403
The Community Brotherhood of Lynn
150 Coburn Street
Lynn, MA 01902
339-440-4420
[email protected]
Bethel AME Church
72 Silsbee Street
Lynn, MA 01901
781-581-5760
[email protected]
